Game day: Raptors at Brooklyn Nets

BARCLAYS CENTER

TIPOFF: 7:30 p.m. TV: Sportsnet One RADIO: TSN 1050

PROBABLE STARTERS

Toronto: Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka Brooklyn: D’Angelo Russell, Joe Harris, Allen Crabbe, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jarrett Allen

KEY MATCHUP

Russell/Lowry Russell is the facilitator for the Nets, though his 5.7 assists per night pale in comparison to Lowry’s leagueleading 10.1. Russell has stepped up since top scorer Caris LeVert went down with a gruesome ankle injury, averaging 19.4 points in his last 12 games. Russell leads the Nets in threes (2.5 per game), steals (1.3) and turnovers (2.7). Lowry has gone a combined 2-for-15 from the field in the last two games and recorded a season-low four assists against the 76ers on Wednesday.

NEED TO KNOW

The Nets have lost eight straight and 12 of their last 14. They’re 2-10 without LeVert … Four of the Nets’ last six losses have been by four points or fewer … Brooklyn is dangerous from three-point range, ranking fourth in makes per game (12.1) and fifth in attempts (34.8). The Raptors rank eighth with 11.5 three-pointers made per game, on an average of 33.5 attempts (ninth) … This is the first meeting between the teams this season.

UP NEXT

The Milwaukee Bucks visit on Sunday at 6 p.m.