Nets @ Raptors Preview

This season has not gone like anyone expected it.

The Eastern Conference is definitely shaking up. Derrick Rose is out for the season (again) effectively taking the Chicago Bulls out of the title contention most expected them to fight to. The Pacers may be the best team in the Eastern Conference and teams like the Toronto Raptors find themselves No.1 in their division.

Tonight the Raptors will take on a division rival that most expected to rise to the top this year and yet they sit last in their division with a .231 win percentage.

The Nets have it rough right now.  Not only are they sinking, but they are also on a five-game skid.  They will try to cease that skid against the Raptors. Meanwhile, the Raptors will be looking for their third straight win, while enjoying their spot at the top of the Atlantic Division.

It is no secret that the Nets are struggling. They were booed by their own fans when they lost to the Detroit Pistons, 109-97. The Nets are playing without Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. Kevin Garnett is scoring only 6.5 points per game, a career low. Paul Pierce, who has a career average of 21.7 points per game, has only averaged 13 points per game this season, also a career low.

Brooklyn going on the road to battle the Raptors does not favor them. When playing away from Brooklyn they are 1-7 and allow over 100 points per game.

The Raptors are coming off a 96-88 win against Washington. Six of their players scored double digits in that game, led by DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay who put up 17 each. Gay in particular is having a good season averaging 20 points a game.

The Nets beat the Raptors in three of their four meetings last season, but things are clearly changing in the NBA right now. The Raptors are favored to win this game with a -7 point spread. The game starts at 7 p.m. ET.

All odds courtesy of Bovada.