It's easy to think offense when handicapping the Nets because of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. But Brooklyn isn't a good shooting team. The Nets rank 19th in scoring. What the Nets are good at is defensive field goal percentage where they rank first.

Brooklyn has held its last three opponents to an average of 102 points. That puny average is what the Raptors are averaging during their past four games, 102.7.

The Raptors had held their opposition to 112 points or fewer in regulation in six straight games until giving up 126 to the Pelicans two days ago in an 18-point loss. Toronto coach Nick Nurse ripped his team's defensive effort following that game.

So I'm expecting a much better defensive performance from the Raptors in this game.

The team's have met twice this season. There were 214 combined points in the Nets' 109-105 home win against the Raptors on Oct. 21 and 210 combined points produced in the Nets' 112-98 road win against Toronto on Nov. 23.