Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets
PREVIEW: The Toronto Raptors host the Brooklyn Nets at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, with the home side aiming to clinch an automatic playoff berth and the visitors hoping for a better lottery spot. The Raptors sit at 45-36 and sixth in the East, while the Nets remain at 20-61 and 13th. The Raptors can secure a top-six playoff spot with a win, and they can still finish fifth if other results go their way.
Brandon Ingram leads Toronto with 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, while Scottie Barnes is putting up 18.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. The Raptors are scoring 114.4 points per game while allowing 111.9, shooting 48.0 percent from the field, and their offensive and defensive ratings sit at 115.6 and 113.2 respectively, which rank among the better marks in the league. The Nets are scoring only 106.0 points per game, shooting 44.3 percent from the field, and their offensive rating is 108.8 while their defensive rating sits at 118.9. Both teams currently lack available ShotQuality data to assess their shot selection and efficiency patterns. The Raptors are the better team, they are at home, and they still have something concrete to play for, with their offense more stable and their defense much better than Brooklyn's.