The New Jersey Nets will get a few important pieces back Friday night as they attempt to halt a six game losing streak. PG Deron Williams (side) and PF Kris Humphries (shoulder) will return, after missing Wednesday's 89-70 loss to the Boston Celtics, to take on the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.
Forward Damion James is out with a right foot injury that has Nets brass concerned and rookie guard MarShon Brooks will be a game time decision after he rolled his ankle late against the Celtics.
Following their season opening victory over the Washington Wizards, the Nets have been a mess trying to (unsuccessfully) pick up their second victory. Losing Williams and Humphries was just the icing on the dreadful cake.
Williams and Humphries will be welcomed back by Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani, currently 7th in the league in scoring with 24 points per game. He is fresh off a 31-point explosion against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday and is in the midst of a streak of six straight games with 20 ore more points.
With the Nets struggling to defend the three point line, they will also need to get a body on the emerging DeMar DeRozan. The third-year guard is averaging 18.5 points while shooting an incredible 63 percent from beyond the arc.
Toronto has won the last four matchups with New Jersey at the Air Canada Centre.
If New Jersey is unable to finally snap their losing streak Friday night, they have return to Newark and face the Miami Heat, not exactly the best way to return home.