Game Thread: Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets

Is this the night? The night that the Toronto Raptors finally face a fully-powered Kevin Durant, for a full game’s worth of action?

The last time the Raptors hosted the Brooklyn Nets, Durant was sidelined with a thigh injury. In the Raps-Nets game back in February, Durant came off the bench, but had to leave after 19 minutes because of the health and safety protocols. And we all know what happened the time Durant played the Raptors before that, in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals.

So this might be it: The night when Durant finally comes out and capitalizes on what he started in that long-ago Game 5, when he looked unstoppable and ready to transform that entire series until the achilles injury ended his night.

It’s been a long time since the Raptors have seen that Durant, but, uh, he’s pretty damn scary:

Is that Durant still around — and will he come out to play tonight? Let’s find out!

Where to Watch:

Sportsnet, 7:30 PM EST

Lineups:

Toronto – Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Khem Birch

Brooklyn – Kyrie Irving, Landry Shamet, Joe Harris, Kevin Durant, DeAndre Jordan

Injuries:

Toronto – Chris Boucher (knee – OUT), Gary Trent Jr. (leg contusion – OUT), Paul Watson (knee – OUT), Jalen Harris (hip – questionable)

Brooklyn – James Harden (hamstring – OUT), Bruce Brown (knee – OUT), Nicolas Claxton (COVID-19 protocols – OUT), Chris Chiozza (hand – OUT), Alize Johnson (COVID-19 protocols – OUT), Spencer Dinwiddie (knee – OUT)