Arizona in the NBA Playoffs: Rondae, Raptors take 2-0 lead on Nets

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

The Toronto Raptors overcame an early deficit to beat the Brooklyn Nets 104-99 on Wednesday. The defending NBA champions now have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

It was a quiet day for former Arizona Wildcats Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson.

RHJ had two rebounds and a steal in six first-half minutes. Johnson did not play for the second straight game.

Fred VanVleet and former UCLA standout Norman Powell led the Raptors with 24 points apiece.

Toronto trailed 80-74 heading into the fourth after trailing by as many as 14 in the first quarter.

What’s next?

Game 3 is scheduled for Friday at 10:30 a.m. MST on NBATV.

Game 2 of the Miami Heat-Indiana Pacers series is set for 10 a.m. MST on Thursday, with Andre Iguodala and Solomon Hill’s Heat leading 1-0 over T.J. McConnell’s Pacer squad.

Game 2 of the Orlando Magic-Milwaukee Bucks series is set for Thursday at 3 p.m. MST, with eighth-seeded Orlando holding a 1-0 lead after shocking the top-seeded Bucks 122-110 on Tuesday.

Aaron Gordon missed that game with a strained hamstring and his status for Thursday is uncertain.

Remember: All NBA playoff games are taking place in the Disney World bubble in Orlando.

What they’re saying about Arizona’s guys on social media

Kurucs tried to bust up OG’s pretty face. Send Rondae after him.

— Matt Shantz (@m_shantz) August 19, 2020

Say Their Names pic.twitter.com/pL0WE3Ls4c

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) August 19, 2020

Let’s get TD or Matt Thomas this half. Rondae isn’t adding much to this matchup

— S (@hoopgoose) August 19, 2020

One of the Nets biggest advantages in this series: Rondae Hollis Jefferson. The more RHJ minutes the better, he makes them 10x easier to defend

— BKN 7/11 (@brooklynnets85) August 19, 2020

It’s also inevitable he wastes at least 2 possessions for them on offensive with a Rondae Hollis Jefferson special reverse 360 layup

— claxstan (@netsstan) August 19, 2020

Great steal by the Raptors Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Norman Powell for 2 #Raptors #RTZ #WeTheNorth #NBA #NBAPlayoffs

— Jeff Ferrara (@JFerraraF18) August 19, 2020

Nice Rondae effort so far

— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) August 19, 2020

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson sets the screen, allowing Kyle Lowry to have the open lane to attack the basket.

Raptors down three.

#Raptors #NBAPlayoffs

— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) August 19, 2020

I will donate to charity if i never have to see Rondae hoop

— Playoff Reese (@RepeatRaptors) August 19, 2020

I don’t know how Chris Chiozza is supposed to do anything with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson guarding him

— Billy Reinhardt (@BillyReinhardt) August 19, 2020

I'll say this for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson; he's one of those rare players where you have no idea what's going to happen when he gets his hands on the ball.

— Paul Dawkins (@Paul__Dawkins) August 19, 2020

Just found out that the majority of the @Raptors roster is late round picks and undrafted players. In fact the highest draft pick is Stanley Johnson @ #8 and the @DetroitPistons made that selection. #pain

— JSP (@jj_stp) August 19, 2020

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