The Toronto Raptors couldn’t handle The Truth in crunch time as they fell at home in Game 1 against the Nets. With a couple of days to make some much-needed adjustments, can the young Raptors even the series up before heading to Brooklyn?
Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors Round 1, Game 2 Betting Preview
Series Schedule & Results
Game 1 – April 19, Brooklyn 94 Toronto 87
Game 2 – April 22, 7:30PM ET, Brooklyn (+4) at Toronto (-4); total 187.5 – view all NBA lines
Game 3 – April 25, 7:00PM ET, Toronto at Brooklyn
Game 4 – April 27, 7:00PM ET, Toronto at Brooklyn
Game 5 (if necessary) – April 30, Brooklyn at Toronto
Game 6 (if necessary) – May 2, Toronto at Brooklyn
Game 7 (if necessary) – May 4, Brooklyn at Toronto
Betting on the Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets capitalized on the Toronto Raptors’ relative inexperience to steal Game 1, 94-87 on the road. 2008 NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, while Deron Williams and Joe Johnson each scored 24 points to lead the Nets.
After resting his starters in the final regular season game, head coach Jason Kidd played veterans Pierce (36 minutes), Williams (39 minutes) and Johnson (45 minutes) big minutes. With a three-day break before Game 2, expect Kidd to employ the same heavy-minute rotation.
The Nets survived shooting just 4-24 (17%) from beyond the arc by stifling their young opponents’ offense. They caused 19 Toronto turnovers (resulting in 17 Nets points) and held the Raptors to under 90 points at home for the first time since Nov. 29.
The under has now gone 5-1 in the Nets’ last six visits to Canada.
Betting on the Toronto Raptors
The inexperienced Raptors showed some nerves (39% shooting, 19 turnovers) in their first playoff appearance in a long time, but they also showed some positives as well.
Jonas Valanciunas continued where he left off in his terrific end to the regular season (17 PPG, 11 RPG in April) with a monster 17-point, 18-rebound performance. Valanciunas is the only clear-cut advantage the Raptors have against the Nets, and may look to their young center even more in Game 2.
Kyle Lowry (25.6 PPG in his last five regular season games) also resumed his stellar play with 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. However, they’ll need a lot more from leading scorer DeMar DeRozan (14 points, 3-13 FG), who was thoroughly outplayed by his Nets counterpart, Joe Johnson.
The Raptors also received nothing from starting forwards Amir Johnson and Terrence Ross (five points, six rebounds combined), which could force Dwane Casey to turn to sixth man Greivis Vasquez (18 points, 3-5 3PFG).
The total in Game 1 went under after going over in eight of the Raptors’ last nine home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Raptors make their adjustments and take care of the ball better to earn a home split heading to Brooklyn. Take the Raptors -4 to cover.
