Grades from Toronto Raptors big road win vs Brooklyn Nets

Toronto Raptors - Fred VanVleet (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors - Fred VanVleet (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Patrick McCaw (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Toronto Raptors took advantage of some poor Brooklyn Nets play to pick up a win on the road. How did everyone grade in the win?

After a dismal offensive performance against the Miami Heat, the Toronto Raptors were all systems go as they traveled to the Barclays Center to take on the 16-17 Brooklyn Nets, who by the end of the evening, would be further under .500 and drifting away from the big hitters in the East or would be evenly split after 34 games.

The Toronto Raptors, who were 23-12 heading into the game, were hoping for the former as they were looking to put a string of wins together to kick off the new year. Thankfully, for Nick Nurse and the Raptors, they got their wish.

Though, it didn’t start too easy. The Raptors found themselves down by nine points at the end of the first quarter and were utterly incapable of making, just about, any shot that came their way. But, with the feiry backcourt of Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry leading the charge, the Raptors were able to assert their dominance in the next three quarters, even if they didn’t pull away until the fourth quarter.

Their win was, in part, down to the number of turnovers the Nets gave up. Kenny Atkinson’s team gave up 24 turnovers in 48 minutes, which lead to the Raptors scoring 32 points off of those turnovers. That, and the Raptors ability to crash the offensive glass, saw them take 30 more field-goal attempts than the Nets.

If that doesn’t win you a game, then nothing will. Chris Boucher and Serge Ibaka were dominant on the glass, Lowry and VanVleet were on fire from deep, and the Raptors walked away with a win that maybe flatters them just a little.

Still, a win is a win. How did everyone grade?