Raptors sink Nets in Montreal
MONTREAL — Danny Green had 22 points and three rebounds and Kyle Lowry was ejected for a pair of technical fouls as the Toronto Raptors beat the Brooklyn Nets 11891 in NBA pre-season action Wednesday.
Serge Ibaka chipped in 13 points and five rebounds for Toronto (3-1). Kawhi Leonard, making his third appearance in tune-up play, had 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Lowry was ejected halfway through the third quarter when he got two technicals on the same play, arguing a call by referee Karl Lane on teammate Pascal Siakam. Lowry had complained to match officials several times in the first half, unhappy with fouls called against him.
Jarrett Allen led Brooklyn (1-2) with 26 points and six rebounds. D’Angelo Russell added 18 points and five rebounds while Caris LeVert had 14 points and five rebounds.
The game was played at Montreal’s Bell Centre as part of the NBA Canada series, which is in its sixth year. Toronto is 8-2 all time in the Canada series and 5-0 when playing an exhibition match in Montreal.
The Raptors trailed by as many as eight points in the second quarter, but a couple of key three-pointers by C.J. Miles and Fred Van Vleet cut Brooklyn’s lead to 41-39.
The Raptors led 63-62 in the third quarter before they started pulling away. Shortly after Lowry’s ejection, the Raptors went on a 16-2 run to end the third with a 91-70 lead.
Montreal native Chris Boucher entered the game to a standing ovation with seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter. He finished with six points and a block.
Toronto outscored Brooklyn 27-21 in the fourth.
Among the packed crowd at the Bell Centre were NBA legend Gary Payton, UFC star Georges St-Pierre and Montreal Canadiens players Brendan Gallagher and Max Domi.
The Raptors play their final pre-season match tonight in New Orleans. Their regular season begins Oct. 17 at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On Wednesday, a group of Quebec investors said they want to bring an NBA franchise to Montreal, even though the league has no immediate plans for expansion.
NOTES:
Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against D’Angelo Russell of the Brooklyn Nets in an NBA exhibition game on Wednesday night in Montreal. Lowry was later tossed from the contest.