TORONTO — Despite the Nets and Raptors coming into Monday night’s game on long losing streaks, somebody’s had to end at Scotiabank Arena.
The Nets ended theirs with a 96-88 win, snapping a six-game skid. The Raptors, meanwhile, saw their losing streak extend to 11 games as they fell 1-12 in March.
With multiple contributors sidelined for both teams, it was far from a pretty game. The Nets shot 23.1% from beyond the arc and the Raptors were worse at 18.5%. The Nets didn’t cross 90 points until 2:10 remaining.
Yet the Nets (27-45) avoided a fourth consecutive late-game collapse thanks to a 10-0 fourth quarter run. Dennis Schroder added two clutch baskets during that stretch as he had 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
The win came as the Nets were without Cam Johnson (sprained big toe), Dennis Smith Jr. (right hip synovitis) and Keita Bates-Diop (right shin stress reaction). Cam Thomas was also ruled out just before the game due to lower back tightness.
It forced the Nets to rely on others who delivered for contributions. Trendon Watford had a season-high 19 points. Jalen Wilson, making the second start of his rookie season, had 12 points and five rebounds.
Fellow rookie Noah Clowney had seven points and six rebounds. He and Wilson also shared the floor in crunch time as the Nets tried to avoid a fourth consecutive late-game collapse.
The help supported a rough shooting night for Mikal Bridges. He had 13 points in 37 minutes but shot 5-for-15, including 3-12 on threes. He also took a fall in the third quarter and appeared to limp for a bit but played on.
The Nets led 66-60 in the third quarter before the Raptors took the lead on a 9-0 run. The Nets responded in the fourth with a 12-2 run to go back up 82-75.
With his three children present in the arena, Schroder added a jump shot and a layup that put the Nets up 90-81. After Watford made a layup, Raptors fans slowly filed out of the arena.
The Raptors (23-49), meanwhile, were down four players who started…
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