The Brooklyn Nets’ clash against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday was no nondescript regular-season game. Not only did the Nets enter at 8-8 with a chance to move above .500 by winning their third straight, but massive In-Season Tournament implications awaited them. A win over Toronto — along with other favorable outcomes from Tuesday’s NBA action — could vault the Nets into the knockout round of the inaugural NBA Cup.
“Everybody always loves extra incentives,” said Cam Johnson at shootaround. Everybody always loves [having] a little extra to play for, and tonight, we definitely have that.