The Brooklyn Nets are on the brink of elimination at the hands of the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors heading into Game 4 of their first-round series.
While the Nets put up a good fight in Game 2 after getting blown out in Game 1, Brooklyn took a step back in Game 3 — which was largely due to the absence of Joe Harris, who had to leave the Disney bubble to deal with a personal matter.
Attacking the Raptors from the outside on the offensive end will be crucial for Brooklyn in Game 4 again, but the Nets also need Jarrett Allen to score more than four points — which he did in Game 3 — if they hope to compete.
A win in Game 4 will be a tough task for the Nets, but this group has shown over and over in the bubble they’re going to battle until the end.
INJURIES: Harris and Jamal Crawford (left hamstring strain) are both out. … Patrick McCaw (benign mass in knee) remains unavailable for Toronto.
RAPTORS ROSTER:
- OG Anunoby
- Chris Boucher
- Oshae Brissett
- Terence Davis
- Marc Gasol
- Dewan Hernandez
- Serge Ibaka
- Stanley Johnson
- Kyle Lowry
- Malcolm Miller
- Pascal Siakam
- Matt Thomas
- Fred VanVleet
- Paul Watson
QUICK STATS: The Raptors have outshot the Nets from the floor (47.1% vs. 39.7%) and from deep (41.9% vs. 32.1%) throughout the series. … Toronto has also been more efficient at the free-throw line, making 80.6% of their attempts to Brooklyn’s 70.8%.
NETS STARTING LINEUP: Caris LeVert, Tyler Johnson, Garrett Temple, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Jarrett Allen.
RAPTORS STARTING FIVE: Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol.
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