When: April 13, 2016; 8:00 PM EST
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network2
Radio: CBS 880 AM
- It’s perhaps fitting that the Nets’ final opponent of the 2015-16 season is the Raptors, the only team the Nets have beaten in a playoff series in their four years in Brooklyn. This season, Toronto is squarely in the Eastern Conference playoff picture while the Nets have long since been eliminated from it.
- Neither team will have many regulars playing tonight, as the Raptors will be without DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, James Johnson, DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas. Toronto beat the 76ers yesterday 122-98 so it makes sense Dwane Casey is resting his key guys in a meaningless season finale.
- We’ll see more of the rookies and other young guys for the Nets, as per usual, and may — for the final time — see Donald Sloan, Henry Sims and Sergey Karasev in a Brooklyn uniform. All are free agents this offseason — as is Willie Reed — while Wayne Ellington, Shane Larkin and Thomas Robinson hold player options.
- The Nets, with a win, would finish with 22 wins on the season, which is how many the Phoenix Suns have right now (they end their season against the Clippers tonight). If Brooklyn wins and the Suns lose, a random drawing will be held to determine whether the Celtics (who own the Nets’ pick) or the Suns will have a higher chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick. In the second round, due to a pick swap with the Clippers from the Reggie Evans trade, the Nets will have the No. 55 overall selection. Not optimal.
Probable lineups
TOR- Cory Joseph (PG), Terrence Ross (SG), Norman Powell (SF), Jason Thompson (PF), Bismack Biyombo (C)
BKN- Shane Larkin (PG), Wayne Ellington (SG), Bojan Bogdanovic (SF), Chris McCullough (PF), Henry Sims (C)
Final thoughts
It’s over, folks. It’s finally over. This dreck of a “bridge year” has come to a close. Let’s send Tony Brown off with (hopefully) a close game.
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