NBA
Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
The Toronto Raptors welcome the Brooklyn Nets for a New Year’s Day affair on their home patch in Canada.
Cameron Johnson and Taurean Prince//Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors welcome the Brooklyn Nets for a New Year’s Day affair on their home patch in Canada. This rivalry in the Eastern Conference continues into the new calendar year, but both teams will be fighting hard, considering both team’s records place them as the 12th and 14th seeds, respectively.
With this preview, SportsBoom explores their rivalry further, examining their previous head-to-head records, both teams’ respective seasons, and our valued bets.
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Match Details: Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets
Date: Wednesday 1st January 2025
Start time: 7:30 pm local time (12:30 am BST)
Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada
Last meeting: December 19, 2024, Brooklyn Nets 101-94 Toronto Raptors
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Brooklyn Nets: 15/20 (1.75) – 57.1%
Toronto Raptors: 11/10 (2.10) – 47.6%
Forecast Odds – Betting available on Stake closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
The Toronto Raptors and the Brooklyn Nets have played 113 regular-season games. Overall, the Raptors have won the most, with 61 wins, whereas the Nets have only 52. The Nets are currently on a three-win streak but have dominated the fixture in the last ten meetings, with the Nets producing eight wins in their previous ten.
Despite the Brooklyn Nets' recent dominance, the Raptors have the best overall record. Their last win came in February 2024, which should make this an intriguing matchup. Both teams faced off earlier in the 2024/25 season on December 19th, with the Nets winning 101-94.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/25 Season | December 19, 2024 | Brooklyn Nets 101-94 Toronto Raptors |
| 2023/24 Season | April 10, 2024 | Brooklyn Nets 106-102 Toronto Raptors |
| 2023/24 Season | March 25, 2024 | Brooklyn Nets 96-88 Toronto Raptors |
| 2023/24 Season | February 22, 2024 | Toronto Raptors 121-93 Brooklyn Nets |
| 2023/24 Season | November 28, 2024 | Brooklyn Nets 115-103 Toronto Raptors |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Toronto Raptors
- Record: 7-24
- Home Form: 6-10
- Road Form: 1-14
The Toronto Raptors remain 14th in the Eastern Conference and have one of the poorest road records in the league, having secured only one victory in fifteen games. As the NBA’s only Canadian team, they are hosting the Nets in a matchup that would mark a vital win for the Raptors as they attempt to formulate a playoff push. All their other wins have arrived on home turf, as they picked up six wins.
The Raptors’ starting center, Jakob Poeltl, has since been upgraded and listed as questionable after suffering a minor groin strain in the previous weeks. Whether the star will be fit for any return against the Nets remains to be seen, but a key step forward for the team as they are struggling in the conference's lower positions. Poeltl’s stunning average of 11 rebounds per game sees him as one of the best in the league and on the current roster.
The Raptors’ shooting guard RJ Barrett returned after a week away and witnessed the hometown hero producing the best numbers of his career thus far. The Canadian star is in excellent form and will play his first home game since facing the New York Knicks. The standout performer nearly recorded a triple-double against the Memphis Grizzlies following a blowout loss and is the glue to keeping the roster in shape.
Brooklyn Nets
- Record: 12-19
- Home Form: 5-9
- Road Form: 7-10
When looking at the table, the Brooklyn Nets have won five games more than their rivals but remain a distant 12th in the classification charts. The Nets boast a better record on the road, winning seven out of their 17 games. Despite having a 3-7 record in their last ten games, their previous two wins have arrived on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks and their repeat opponents for this clash, the Toronto Raptors.
23-year-old star Cam Thomas is set to make a comeback in the New Year after a month on the sideline due to a hamstring injury. Before his month-long hiatus from the roster, he averaged 24.7 points per game and has matched his best assists and rebounds this season. Without question, the shooting guard is now their number-one offensive operator, but it remains to be seen whether the Nets have any chance of competing this season. Point guard Dennis Schroder left to start anew at the Golden State Warriors, meaning Cameron Johnson and Thomas are the only capable heavy scorers on the roster.
Shooting forward Johnson has posted 19.5 points per game in 29 games this season, a record significantly higher than his previous years in Brooklyn and his last team, the Phoenix Suns. It is noticeable that without the injured Thomas or Schroder, the team is struggling to find their feet, but that could be why Johnson is posting his best numbers, which is due to the lack of options around him.
Value Bets
Jakob Poeltl: Over 9 Rebounds: Should Poeltl start this match, SportsBoom predicts he will continue where he finished before his injury. The previous two fixtures against the Nets have seen him post nine rebounds on both occasions, and the seven-foot giant will once again show why he is one of the Raptors’ biggest stars.
Cam Johnson: Over 25 points: The Nets star compiled his best numbers in their last encounter, which took place only a few weeks prior, a standout performance from their previous five meetings. Johnson scored 33 points, posted 10 rebounds, and had six assists, a performance that could be replicated based on this recent clash. Given his past performance, Johnson was a crucial player in the Nets' victory and should not be underestimated.
Prediction: Brooklyn Nets to Win
Given that the Toronto Raptors are struggling to find their footing in the head-to-head records, SportsBoom predicts that the Brooklyn Nets will win again, extending their winning streak to four consecutive victories. The Raptors may have a similar record at home compared to the Nets, but this game looks set to mark the return of Thomas, who could be a significant boost for Brooklyn. Thomas’ absence has been noticeable, and we anticipate he and Johnson will showcase their dynamic chemistry once again, assuming the former makes his return.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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