Orlando Robinson totaled 23 points and 12 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors led wire-to-wire in a 116-86 rout over the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Wednesday night.
The Raptors (26-47) hold the NBA’s seventh-worst record and began the night with a 7.5 chance percent to win the draft lottery in May. Toronto won its second straight in a run of four straight games against opponents with among the six worst records in the NBA.
Robinson started at center as Jakob Poeltl was held out for rest. He made 10 of 14 shots and he helped Toronto control the glass by a commanding 63-43 margin.
RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes added 15 points apiece as the Raptors shot 42.2 percent. Rookie Jonathan Mogbo added 16, Ochai Agbaji contributed 12 and rookie Ja’Kobe Walter chipped in 11. Yet another rookie, Jamison Battle, added eight points and 10 rebounds.
The Nets (23-50) now have five 50-loss seasons since moving from New Jersey in 2012. Unlike three of those seasons (2016, 2017, 2024) the Nets own their own first-round pick along with three other first-rounders and began the night with a 9.7 percent at winning the lottery.
Brooklyn lost its fifth straight and for the 16th time in 19 games. The Nets rested Cam Johnson and were handed their second straight double-digit loss after their previous eight losses were by single digits.
Nic Claxton led Brooklyn with 22 and 11 boards. Ziaire Williams added 13 points as the Nets shot 35.6 percent, made 8-of-41 on 3-point attempts (19.5 percent) and allowed 30 points off 20 turnovers.
The Raptors held the Nets to 30 percent (6-of-20), forced seven turnovers and scored 20 points in the paint for a 32-18 lead after the opening quarter. After allowing the first eight points of the second, Toronto took a 21-point lead on Barrett’s three-point play late in the quarter and built a 62-45 lead by halftime.
The Raptors took a 73-55 lead on a strong move to the rim by Robinson with 6:41 left in the third. After the Nets got within 12, the Raptors finished the quarter with an 18-6 run for a 93-68 advantage going into the fourth
Toronto reached the century mark when Barnes finished off a three-point play for a 101-74 lead with 7:58 left.
