Three takeaways from Toronto Raptors rout vs Brooklyn Nets

BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 4: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets on January 4, 2020 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 4: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors handles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets on January 4, 2020 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Serge Ibaka (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Toronto Raptors took over in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets as they walked away with an impressive win on the road. What did we learn from the game?

Looking to make amends for an ugly, ugly loss against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, the Toronto Raptors traveled to New York to take on their Atlantic Division rivals, the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets were still without Kyrie Irving but were welcoming back Caris LeVert to the court for the first time since November.

Fortunately for the Raptors, it wouldn’t be a heroes welcome back into the fold for LeVert, but instead a revenge game for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who was returning to the Barclays Center for the first time since joining the Raptors in the offseason.

It was the Nets, led by the three-point shooting of Joe Harris, who would get off to an impressive start, putting up 33 points in the first quarter. It seemed like, despite their turnovers, that the Nets would run away with this one. The Raptors shot 36-percent from the field and 12-percent from three in the first quarter, despite being presented with some open looks.

Sometimes the shots just don’t go down. In the first quarter they didn’t, but the Raptors would go on to shot 50-percent from three for the rest of the game. Those open looks that failed them in the first quarter were beginning to fall, and the Nets were struggling to keep close.

They managed to do so until the fourth quarter, but the Raptors outscored the Nets 73-50 in the second half and by 16 in the final 12 minutes. Led by their dynamic backcourt, the Raptors put the shooting woes of Miami behind them and came away with an impressive win against a potential playoff foe.

The signs, for the most part, were good, but what did we really learn from the game?