Raptors cruise past Nets in return from All-Star break
TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Gary Trent Jr. scored 25 points and the Toronto Raptors beat Brooklyn 121-93 on Thursday night, spoiling the debut of interim Nets coach Kevin Ollie.
Immanuel Quickley had 24 points and RJ Barrett added 12 points and matched a season high with seven assists as the Raptors snapped a three-game home losing streak and recorded their first win in 12 games against Atlantic Division opponents this season.
Mikel Bridges led Brooklyn with 21 points. Ollie replaced Jacque Vaughn on Tuesday, a day after Vaughn was fired following a 21-33 start.
Cam Thomas scored 19 points for the Nets, who failed to extend a five-game winning streak against Toronto. Brooklyn has lost three straight and six of seven.
Vaughn’s final game in charge, also Brooklyn’s last before the All-Star break, was a 136-86 loss to the Boston Celtics on Feb. 14. It was the Nets’ worst defeat since leaving New Jersey in 2012.
The Nets made a season-high 20 turnovers Thursday, leading to 32 points for the Raptors. Brooklyn’s previous high for turnovers was 19, done twice.
Bridges and Thomas were the only Nets starters to score in double figures. Ben Simmons had two points in 21 minutes, making one of two shots. Former Raptors guard Dennis Schroder shot 1 for 7 and scored four points off the bench.
Toronto’s biggest lead was 34 points. The Raptors outscored Brooklyn 46-10 on fast-break points, a season best in that category.
Quickley shot 5 for 8 from 3-point range and has made at least one shot from distance in 27 consecutive games, matching a career-best streak. He also did it last season.
Toronto was up 30-21 after one quarter and led 59-48 at the half. Quickley scored 11 points in the third as the Raptors extended their advantage to 82-71 heading to the fourth.
Guard D.J. Carton made his Toronto debut after signing a 10-day contract on Wednesday and scored three points in four minutes.
UP NEXT
Nets: Visit Minnesota on Saturday night.
Raptors: Visit Atlanta on Friday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba