The Brooklyn Nets were forced to deal with a severely limited roster pool ahead of their matchup with the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. Only eight players were eligible to roll out because of COVID protocols. In the end, things got heated and it went all the way down to the wire in overtime.
Brooklyn was just so dominant on the glass even without their primary big man, LaMarcus Aldridge. They outrebounded Toronto 60-41 and in the process, grabbed down 19 massive offensive boards. The Nets made sure to make their presence felt in the interior as well, outscoring the Raptors 58-50 in the paint.
The team did struggle taking care of the ball though, putting together an unacceptable 16 turnovers. As for their third quarter performance, it was hard to watch. They gave up 44 points, giving themselves a nine-point hole to dig out of going into the final period.
In a prideful manner, Brooklyn embraced the pressure yet again, something they have done all seasons long. Somehow, the Nets held the Raptors to 20 points, the lowest amount of points they held Toronto to for the entire game in any period but overtime.
Kevin Durant (34 PTS, 13 REBS, 11 ASTS) was at the forefront of it all as he put together his 14th triple-double of his career. Patty Mills (30 PTS, 7 3PM), Kessler Edwards (17 PTS, 10 REBS), David Duke Jr. (10 PTS, 13 REBS), Blake Griffin (13 PTS, 6 ASTS) stepped up big time in the closing minutes and the Raptors couldn’t do anything about it. They at least tried though and almost won the game in regulation when they were up three with mere seconds left.
That was until Mills, with ice in his veins, knocked down a clutch three to send the game into overtime. After that, Brooklyn made sure to keep the momentum going to outscore Toronto 11-9 in the period.
.@Patty_Mills FORCES OT 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/9PpZNZ8pyS
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 15, 2021
Steve Nash and his short-handed squad will be be back in action on Thursday to take on the Philadelphia 76ers.