The Toronto Raptors (22-15) took care of business Wednesday at the Barclays Center as they defeated the Brooklyn Nets (10-25), 91-74.
Trailing 34-29 with 4:50 to go in the second quarter, the Raptors went on a 16-2 run to finish the quarter and enter the half with a nine-point lead. That would prove to be the game's turning point, as the Raptors led wire-to-wire in the second half.
Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas led the way for Toronto with a double-double behind 22 points and 11 rebounds. Point guard Kyle Lowry filled up the box score as well, as he scored 17, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists. The Raptors hit just four of their 22 three-point attempts, but they made up for it by grabbing 12 offensive rebounds and shooting 17-18 from the free throw line.
Despite the loss, Nets center Brook lopez led all players with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks, his fifth double-double in the past six games. Lopez, however, was the only Net to shoot better than 50 percent, as the club shot 39.7 percent from the floor, 31.3 percent from three, and a brutal 58.3 percent from the free throw line. Bojan Bogdanovic's 12 points finished second on the team.
The Raptors snapped a two-game losing streak and will continue their road trip Friday against the Wizards. The Nets have now lost two straight and have won just three of their last 13; they'll try and turn it around Friday at home against the Magic.
