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Nets pay a visit to Raptors up north

Apr 10, 2011 - 3:14 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of struggling Atlantic Division inhabitants playing out the string get together this evening north of the border, where the Toronto Raptors are set to entertain the New Jersey Nets at Air Canada Centre.

The Raptors have lost three in a row and nine of their last 10 games, and are coming off Friday's 98-93 setback in Philadelphia. DeMar DeRozan and Jerryd Bayless scored 27 and 24 points, respectively, while Ed Davis contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto.

"We had 13 turnovers in the first half and it was guys trying to do things on their own instead of move the ball," Raptors coach Jay Triano said. "We addressed that at halftime and turned the ball over only seven times in the second half."

Reggie Evans grabbed 15 rebounds in defeat. The Raptors played without Leandro Barbosa (sore right pinky), Amir Johnson (sore left ankle), Jose Calderon (hamstring) and Andrea Bargnani (sore right ankle). Bargnani and Calderon are doubtful for tonight and Barbosa and Johnson are listed as questionable.

DeRozan has been beefing up his stats lately, averaging 26.4 points in his last five games. Bayless is posting 24.0 ppg in that same stretch. The Raptors are 15-24 at home and will visit Milwaukee before entertaining Miami in Wednesday's season finale.

New Jersey has lost two straight and 12 of 14 games, including a 116-93 loss at home to the rival New York Knicks on Friday night.

Brook Lopez finished with 27 points for the Nets, who got 13 points from Sasha Vujacic and 12 out of Stephen Graham.

"No excuses," Nets head coach Avery Johnson said. "Our guys have to play a little bit harder, a little bit smarter. They are trying but this wasn't one of their better nights."

Johnson's squad will try to put the brakes on a five-game road losing streak Sunday and is only 5-34 away from Newark, NJ. The Nets still have a home game with Charlotte and a road tilt in Chicago remaining on the schedule.

Nets guard Anthony Morrow is questionable for tonight (left knee tendinitis). New Jersey is already without All-Star guard Deron Williams (wrist) and double-doubles leader Kris Humphries (ankle/heel).

New Jersey has won two of three meetings with Toronto this season after losing all four a year ago. The Nets have dropped three straight and seven of nine contests as the guest in the series, which featured a pair of games in London, England back in early March.