The struggling Brooklyn Nets will have a new voice on the bench as they visit the Toronto Raptors on Thursday in the first game out of the All-Star break for both with the Dinos opening as 2-point favourites.

Nets vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds

The Nets at one point were 15-15 and looked like they might be an Eastern Conference playoff team. Brooklyn is only 6-18 since, however, and was embarrassed in its final game before the All-Star break , 136-86 in Boston. For whatever reason, team ownership opted not to fire coach Jacque Vaughn perhaps then but instead Monday. 

In two-plus seasons as the Nets’ coach, Vaughn was 71-68 in the regular season and 0-8 in the playoffs. He replaced Canadian legend Steve Nash a season ago before going 43-32 and getting swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Vaughn was the third East coach to get fired this season with Milwaukee and Washington also making changes. 

Kevin Ollie, who won a national championship as UConn’s coach in 2014 and joined the Nets as an assistant coach this season, has been named interim head coach. Ollie, who also played in the league for 13 years, was a candidate for the Detroit Pistons head coaching job last summer before the team hired Monty Williams.

Thursday is the second of four regular-season meetings between the teams. On Nov. 28, the Raptors lost 115-103 in Brooklyn as part of the In-Season Tournament. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 23 points to lead the Nets; he was traded at the recent deadline to Toronto for Dennis Schroder and Thaddeus Young, but Dinwiddie was immediately bought out by the Raptors and is now with the Lakers. Young is now with Phoenix. 

Toronto leads the all-time series 60-49 despite losing the past five (two straight at home).

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets come out of the break at 11^th in the East at 24-31 and 2.5 games back of Atlanta for the final play-in tournament spot. Brooklyn is +190 to compete in that. Seems rather unlikely unless the coaching change we mentioned above really spurs the team. Mikal Bridges leads the club at 21.7 points per game and Cam Thomas is next at 21.2. Those are two building blocks as is probably centre Nic Claxton (12.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg), but that’s about it. The Nets will have money to spend this summer and have a ton of future draft picks for trades – although there is rising speculation that general manager Sean Marks could soon be out the door. Anything the team gets from former No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons at this point is gravy as he’s in and out of the lineup due to injury and just general apathy. Former Raptors point guard Dennis Schroder is averaging 9.3 points and 5.3 assists in about 25 minutes per night since the trade from Toronto. The Nets are 2-12 ATS in their past 14 away. 

Toronto Raptors

With the week or so off, the Raptors should have everyone available health-wise after the likes of RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk and Jontay Porter were dealing with some injuries ahead of the break. Scottie Barnes played in the All-Star Game on Sunday for the first time and helped least the Eastern Conference to a 211-186 win (the ASG is broken in terms of any defence being played) with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 18 minute off the bench. Barnes also competed in the Skills Competition with Trae Young and Tyrese Maxey, but that Team All-Stars finished second to Team Pacers. This regular season, Barnes and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the only players in the NBA to total at least 1,000 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists, 50 blocks and 50 steals. There is much work to be done to simply reach the East play-in tournament with the Dinos sitting 12^th in the conference, five games behind Atlanta for the final spot. To reach the play-in, Toronto is a +1200 longshot. The Raptors somehow have lost 14 straight games vs. Atlantic Division foes. We think that ends. 

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Nets vs. Raptors?

• Regular Season

Nets Team Leaders

BK

Points	Cam Thomas 22.45
Assists	Dennis Schroder 6.03
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.94
FG%	Nic Claxton 62.9
Steals	Jacob Gilyard 1.5
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.06

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

• Regular Season

Raptors Team Leaders

BK

Points	Cam Thomas 22.45
Assists	Dennis Schroder 6.03
Rebounds	Nic Claxton 9.94
FG%	Nic Claxton 62.9
Steals	Jacob Gilyard 1.5
Blocks	Nic Claxton 2.06

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

Injuries

Brooklyn

Dennis Schroder (PG)

Out Sun Achilles - 12 / 04 / 24

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Out Sun Toe - 11 / 04 / 24

Day'Ron Sharpe (C)

Out Sun Wrist - 11 / 04 / 24

Jaylen Martin (SG)

Out Sun Ankle - 11 / 04 / 24

Jacob Gilyard (PG)

Prob Fri Hip - 11 / 04 / 24

Jacob Gilyard (PG)

Prob Wed Hip - 10 / 04 / 24

Nic Claxton (C)

Prob Wed Ankle - 07 / 04 / 24

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Out Sun Knee - 07 / 04 / 24

Dennis Schroder (PG)

Prob Sun Achilles - 07 / 04 / 24

Cameron Johnson (PF)

Prob Wed Toe - 05 / 04 / 24

Toronto

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Sun Knee - 14 / 04 / 24

Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)

Out Sun Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Sun Hip - 13 / 04 / 24

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Ques Fri Back - 10 / 04 / 24

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Bruce Brown (PG)

Ques Fri Knee - 10 / 04 / 24

Jordan Nwora (PF)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 24

Gradey Dick (SG)

Prob Wed Groin - 07 / 04 / 24

Injuries

Brooklyn

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Dennis Schroder (PG)	Out Sun	Achilles - 12 / 04 / 24	1-1	1-1	+ -
Schroder missed the last matchup due to right Achilles soreness, and he will not face the 76ers on Sunday.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Out Sun	Toe - 11 / 04 / 24	1-1	1-1	+ -
Johnson was held out of the previous match with a left big toe sprain, and he will not suit up Sunday against the 76ers.
Day'Ron Sharpe (C)	Out Sun	Wrist - 11 / 04 / 24	1-1	1-1	+ -
Sharpe was absent from the previous clash with a right wrist effusion, and he will not be available against the 76ers on Sunday.
Jaylen Martin (SG)	Out Sun	Ankle - 11 / 04 / 24	1-1	1-1	+ -
Martin sat out the last contest with a left ankle sprain, and he will not be in the lineup for Sunday's battle versus the 76ers.
Jacob Gilyard (PG)	Prob Fri	Hip - 11 / 04 / 24	1-1	1-1	+ -
Gilyard has suffered a left hip contusion, but he is projected to be available for Friday's battle with the Knicks.
Jacob Gilyard (PG)	Prob Wed	Hip - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	1-2	+ -
Gilyard is likely to be active for Wednesday's battle with the Raptors despite a left hip contusion.
Nic Claxton (C)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-2-1	+ -
Claxton missed the previous game with a left ankle sprain, but it is expected that he will suit up against the Raptors on Wednesday.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Out Sun	Knee - 07 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-2-1	+ -
Finney-Smith has missed the last three games with a left knee effusion, and he will not take the court for Sunday's showdown against the 76ers.
Dennis Schroder (PG)	Prob Sun	Achilles - 07 / 04 / 24	1-3	1-2-1	+ -
Schroder is tending to right Achilles tendinitis, but it is likely that he will partake in Sunday's showdown versus the Kings.
Cameron Johnson (PF)	Prob Wed	Toe - 05 / 04 / 24	2-3	1-3-1	+ -
Johnson has missed the last two games with a left big toe sprain, but it is likely that he will lace up Wednesday against the Raptors.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Sun	Knee - 14 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Barrett is bothered by knee soreness, and he will not battle the Heat on Sunday.
Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)	Out Sun	Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Gueye is hampered by a right thumb sprain, and he will not take on the Heat in Sunday's showdown.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Sun	Hip - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Quickley is laid up with a left adductor strain, and he will not participate in Sunday's tilt against the Heat.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Ques Fri	Back - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Trent Jr. was held out of the last contest due to back spasms, and it is undetermined if he will take on the Heat on Friday.
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Barrett will not partake in Wednesday's showdown versus the Nets as he will be given a day of rest.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Ques Fri	Knee - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Brown sat out the previous game with right knee inflammation, and it is unknown if he will face the Heat on Friday.
Jordan Nwora (PF)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Nwora exited the previous game with an undefined issue, but it is projected that he will dress for Wednesday's matchup with the Nets.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Olynyk will not be available for Wednesday's clash with the Nets as he will receive a day of rest.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 24	2-2	3-1	+ -
Quickley will not be active for Tuesday's clash with the Pacers as he will be given a day of rest.
Gradey Dick (SG)	Prob Wed	Groin - 07 / 04 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Dick missed the last game with a right groin contusion, but it is projected that he will line up against the Nets on Wednesday.