Toronto Raptors - Brooklyn Nets predictions and free betting tips [25/03/2024]

Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors meet on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are undergoing one of the most challenging periods in their team history, having lost 12 of their last 13 games and enduring a 10-game losing streak. This dismal run continued following a close match with Washington Wizards, where Raptors succumbed with a score of 109:112, notwithstanding their staunch struggle until the final minutes. Gary Trent Jr significantly influenced the game, contributing 31 points and becoming the Raptors' top scorer for the match after returning from injury. Rookies, Grady Dick and Kelly Olynik also made considerable contributions, adding 17 and 14 points respectively, with the Canadian bagging 6 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Raptors' attempts to turn the tables in the last quarter were unsuccessful due to a decisive 10:2 sprint by the Wizards, leading to their ninth consecutive defeat. The team's offensive efficiency left much to be desired, with only a completion rate of 42% from field goals and 8/33 attempts from the three-point range.

Injuries to key players: Scottie Barnes, Jakob Peltl, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley continue to hamper the team, limiting its potential and squad depth. The Raptors were on the brink of levelling the score and pushing for overtime in the last minute of the match against the Wizards, but Bruce Brown's missed three-pointer left them bereft of a victory chance.

Coach Darko Rajakovic expressed his disappointment regarding the final moments of the game and identified rebounding issues as one of the main reasons for defeat, especially noting the lack of rebounds compared to Washington. Rajakovic emphasised that despite the players' intention to make accurate shots and make the right on-court decisions, things didn't pan out as intended during this challenging period for the team.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are enduring tough times, losing 8 out of their last 9 games, and strive to break a six-game losing streak, the latest being against New York Knicks with a score of 93:105. In this encounter, Cam Thomas stood out with 19 points and 6 assists, and Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson also made significant contributions, scoring 18 and 13 points respectively. Nonetheless, the lack of support from the rest of the team, where nobody else could surpass a two-point mark, became noticeable. Despite a confidence start and leading for much of the first half, the Nets lost momentum and scored only 36 points in the second half, resulting in an away defeat.

The team confronts a serious need for improvements in key aspects of the game, as interim coach Kevin Ollie highlighted. He emphasised the importance of fast breaks, fighting for loose balls, and offensive rebounds, referring to the fact that the success in the game depends not so much on the players' talent, but on attention to detail and physical endurance. Cam Johnson echoed these sentiments, underscoring the necessity to reinforce team spirit and mutual trust, as well as a more valuable possession management both in offence and defence. For Nets, a moment of brightness in the game was a long throw almost from their own half of the court by Mikal Bridges in the first half, which helped the team to take the lead, even though it couldn't change the outcome of the match.

Match prediction: Toronto Raptors - Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are missing key players, including Dennis Smith Jr, Cameron Johnson, and Ben Simmons, while the Raptors are deprived of the services of Scottie Barnes, Jakob Peltl, and RJ Barrett. Lately, both teams are struggling with away games, with the Nets managing to win only one of their last 9 away games, while the Raptors find themselves in an even more challenging situation with a single victory out of the last 13 meetings. With both teams not making the playoffs, a poor defence is expected along with a higher total point count.