Nets improve NBA lottery chances after ugly loss to lowly Raptors

This was one for the tank brigade.In a game with all kinds of draft implications, the Nets got routed 116-86 by fellow lottery laggards Toronto before a crowd of 16,413 at Barclays Center on Wednesday night.The Nets never led and trailed by as many as 32 points.The Nets (23-50) kept pace with the tanking 76ers for fifth in the lottery odds, after Philadelphia fell to the league-worst Wizards for a sixth straight defeat.And the Nets moved three games “ahead” of the seventh-place Raptors.Brooklyn’s Tragic Number for the play-in is down to one, and they can be eliminated from postseason contention Friday night against the visiting Clippers and ex-Net Ben Simmons, who was bought out last month.

But come May, Nets eyes will be on the lottery, not the playoffs.The Nets were without injured Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe, and rested Cam Johnson.They were led by center Nic Claxton’s team-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, but had little other offense, shooting just 35.6 percent and 8-for-41 from deep.Noah Clowney stepped into the lineup in place of Johnson and had just five points on 1-for-9 shooting, including 1-for-6 from deep.And with point guard D’Angelo Russell managing just two assists against a game-high-tying four giveaways, the Nets were outscored by a staggering 30-7 off turnovers.Center Orlando Robinson had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors (26-47), who put six scorers in double figures.Brooklyn allowed eight unanswered points to fall behind 26-12 with two minutes left in the first quarter.Dariq Whitehead, recalled from G-League Long Island, hit a 3-pointer to pull Brooklyn within 32-26.And Trendon Watford’s and-one capped a 10-2 run to make it 34-29.But the Nets fell back behind 93-68 on a free throw by Scottie Barnes (15 points, seven rebounds and five assists).

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