Trendon Watford had his best game of the season in Toronto Monday, helping the Nets snap a season-high six-game slide. AP Photo by Matt Kelley
Youth and desire proved to be the magic formula for the Brooklyn Nets as they snapped their longest losing streak of the season in Toronto Monday.
Second-year forward Trendon Watford scored a season-high 19 points and Nic Claxton pulled down 16 boards as the Nets ended a six-game slide with defense and rebounding, grinding out a 96-88 win over Toronto in front of 18,376 fans at Scotiabank Arena.
Brooklyn (27-45) found out just before tip-off that it would be without leading scorer Cam Thomas due to a back issue and starting forward Cam Johnson because of a sprained toe.
Backup point guard Dennis Smith Jr. was also shelved with a sore right hip and forward Keita Bates-Diop remained out with a shin injury.
That allowed Watford and rookies Jalen Wilson and Noah Clowney to see serious action.
With the Nets desperate to get back in the win column as they pursue 10th-place Atlanta for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, Watford shot 7-for-10, including 2-for-4 from 3-point range.
He also grabbed seven boards in only 21 minutes off the bench.
“When it got down to crunch time, we just took care of the ball and executed,” said Watford, who put up a career-best 24 points in Los Angeles against the Clippers last April 8.
Wilson finished with 12 points and Clowney added seven and six rebounds as Brooklyn out-caromed Toronto (23-49), 50-30.
The Nets also snatched 16 offensive boards, helping them overcome 20 turnovers on a night that began with bad news and ended with their first win since March 10 in Cleveland.
Brooklyn outscored Toronto, 28-19, over the final 12 minutes.
“I told these guys it’s hard to win in the NBA,” Brooklyn interim coach Kevin Ollie revealed. “We’re going to get a nice team dinner. The wine is going to taste a little bit better.”
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