Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Takeaways: Toronto Raptors collect massive Game 1 win over Brooklyn Nets

By Michael Walton

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 17: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors defends Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half in game one of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 17: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors defends Caris LeVert #22 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half in game one of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 17, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
Toronto Raptors
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 17: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after drawing a foul against the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Raptors start off their title defense with a first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets. Despite being a severely undermanned team, the Nets have been one of the better teams in the bubble but it didn’t take long to see how far apart the defending champs and Brooklyn are, even in such a different environment.

Playing without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving has (often) been the norm for Brooklyn. But heading into the bubble the Nets were without Taurean Prince and DeAndre Jordan—with both players testing positive for COVID-19—and Spencer Dinwiddie and Wilson Chandler (sitting out of bubble play), leaving interim coach Jacque Vaughn to know it would be an uphill battle against Nick Nurse and the Toronto Pistons.

Toronto blitzed Brooklyn right out of the gates to take a commanding 17-point lead into the second quarter. But refusing to go away, the Nets battled extremely hard in the middle periods and made Game 1 a bit closer than the final score indicates.

The Toronto Raptors got a legit challenge from the Nets and while my prediction for this series would still be Toronto in a sweep, Brooklyn showed that the Raptors will have to stay focused throughout this series to make it as short and sweet as possible.

It will be extremely tempting for Nick Nurse’s squad to look ahead to what could be an extremely exciting 2019 playoff rematch against the Philadelphia 76ers or a tough series against the new-look Boston Celtics, but the Nets proved that Caris LeVert and their group of overachieving role players will hang tough all series long. Here are our main takeaways from a nice series-opening win for Toronto.

Home/Raptors News