"The Raptors kicked off the week with a matchup in Brooklyn, looking to take advantage of a Nets defense that allowed 126.6 points per 100 possessions."
"Pair Demin's fast start with a Nic Claxton lob, who drew a technical free throw on top of that, and the Nets jumped out to an early 6-0 lead."
"Another pair of Claxton buckets - who finished with a season-high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds, four assists, and four stocks - helped extend the Nets' lead to 13-6, as the team started 5-for-5 from the field. This led to a Darko Rajakovic timeout, not even three minutes into the game. The lobs in the pick-and-roll continued to eat the Raptors alive defensively, as 16 of Brooklyn's 30 first-quarter points were in the paint. Toronto finished the frame strong, however. A pair of Scottie Barnes buckets, plus triples from Ja'Kobe Walter and Jamison Battle off the bench, helped Toronto end the opening quarter on a 7-0 run, but still trailed Brooklyn 30-28."
The Toronto Raptors recorded three wins this week over the Brooklyn Nets (119-109), Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers. Against Brooklyn, Toronto overcame an early deficit as Nic Claxton and pick-and-roll lobs stressed the defense, but Scottie Barnes and bench contributors rallied late in the first quarter. Claxton finished with a season-high 21 points along with eight rebounds, four assists, and four stocks. The Raptors showed occasional perimeter shooting struggles and missed Sandro Mamukelashvili's bench energy due to a neck injury. Overall team resilience, defensive tweaks, and bench scoring helped secure the victories.
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