Cameron Johnson pours in points late, lifts Nets past Raptors

Field Level Media|published: Thu 19th December, 22:32 2024

Dec 19, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe (20) shoots the ball as Toronto Raptors forwards Jamison Battle (77) and Scottie Barnes defend in the first quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Cameron Johnson had 33 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and the visiting Brooklyn Nets came back to defeat the Toronto Raptors 101-94 on Thursday night.

Johnson scored 13 points in the final 2:24 to help the Nets end a three-game losing streak and extend Toronto's losses to six straight.

Toronto had led by 10 points in the third quarter.

Brooklyn's Ben Simmons and Shake Milton each added 12 points in the game and Noah Clowney scored 11 points.

Ochai Agbaji scored 20 points for the Raptors. Gradey Dick added 19 points and Scottie Barnes scored 16 points.

The Nets used a 6-0 run to finish the first quarter and tie the game at 24.

Brooklyn's Nic Claxton was ejected with 8:46 to play in the second quarter when he threw the ball into the crowd after being fouled. He finished with seven points and five rebounds.

Agbaji's 3-pointer gave Toronto a five-point lead with 7:11 left in the second quarter. Simmons made a three-point play to give Brooklyn a five-point lead with 2:22 to play. Brooklyn led 52-46 at halftime.

The Nets shot 40 percent (18-for-45) from the field in the first half and the Raptors shot 37 percent (17-for-46).

Dick's 3-pointer tied the game at 55 with 9:49 remaining in the third quarter. Toronto used a 5-0 burst to lead 66-61 with 6:04 remaining in the third.

Toronto took an eight-point lead on Chris Boucher's 3-pointer with 2:33 to play in the third. Kelly Olynyk's two free throws bumped the margin to 10. The Raptors led 76-70 after three quarters.

Simmons made a running layup to bring Brooklyn to within one point with 6:58 remaining in the fourth quarter. Milton's 6-footer tied the game at 84 with 5:49 to play.

Barnes gave Toronto a two-point lead with 2:46 left. Johnson tied it with a 6-footer and then made a 3-pointer to give Brooklyn a 93-90 lead with 1:50 to play. Johnson made two free throws with 1:20 left. Dorian Finney-Smith made a key block with 32 seconds to play.

RJ Barrett (illness) and Jakob Poeltl (groin) did not play for Toronto.

--Field Level Media

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