Nets vs. Raptors: A History of the Rivalry

When Do the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors Play Next?

Brooklyn Nets tickets and Toronto Raptors tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the Brooklyn Nets and the Toronto Raptors Rivals?

Yes, the Brooklyn Nets and the Toronto Raptors are rivals within the Atlantic Division of the NBA’s Eastern Conference. The Raptors and Nets compete for the Atlantic Division title each season, with the winner of the division receiving an automatic berth into the NBA Playoffs. Entering the 2023–2024 season, the Raptors have made the playoffs eight times in the last 10 seasons, including the 2019 NBA Finals. Meanwhile, the Nets have made the Playoffs seven times.

Who Are the Brooklyn Nets’ Biggest Rivals?

The Nets have rivalries with other teams that make up the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference like the Philadelphia 76ers, the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors. These rivalries burn particularly deep between these teams and cities due to their close proximity.

Who Are the Toronto Raptors’ Biggest Rivals?

The Toronto Raptors’ biggest rivals are the Brooklyn Nets, dating back to the early 2000s with a heated playoff series and a blockbuster trade. The Raptors also have rivalries with the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat.

Game Results Between the Nets & Raptors

Entering the 2023 season, the Nets and Raptors have squared off 108 times in the regular season, with Toronto holding a slight edge in the head-to-head, 60–48. However, Brooklyn has won four in a row, sweeping all four games in 2022.

From 2016–2018, Toronto won 12 in a row, the longest win streak in this matchup. Extending through 2020, Toronto won 18 out of 19, with the lone loss coming in overtime.

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors History

While the Raptors and Nets have been playing games against each other since 1995, the rivalry heated up in 2004. Raptors legend and NBA All-Star Vince Carter was traded to the Nets from Toronto in 2004. The Nets visited Toronto the next season and Carter was met with a host of boos and negativity from Raptor fans. In a January 2006 regular season game, Carter responded with a 42-point and 10-rebound performance, including a game-winning fadeaway three-pointer to give the Nets a one point victory.

As fate would have it, the two teams met in the playoffs in 2007. During the Eastern Conference First Round, the Nets bested the Raptors in six games. Carter and teammate Richard Jefferson led the Nets to victory, leading the Nets in scoring in five of six games. Carter a series-high in points in a game three throttling for the Nets, scoring 37 points.

After Carter left the Nets, the rivalry simmered slightly. However, the two franchises have squared off twice in the playoffs since his departure. In the 2014 Eastern Conference first round, the Nets eked by the Raptors in seven games, including a one point victory in game seven in Toronto. The Raptors would get their revenge in 2020, sweeping Brooklyn in the 2020 First Round, including a dominant outing in game four. Toronto scored 150 points, and beat Brooklyn by 28 points to seal the deal.

Where Do the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets Play?

Scotiabank Arena has been the home of the Toronto Raptors since 1999. Formerly known as the Air Canada Center and commonly known as The Hangar and The Six, the arena is the home of the Raptors, the NHL franchise Toronto Maple Leafs and also the Raptor’s G League franchise Raptors 905. Outside the arena, Raptor fans who don’t have a ticket can gather at Maple Leaf Square, which is commonly called “Jurassic Park,” to watch the games.

The Brooklyn Nets have called the Barclays Center their home since 2012. Barclays Center is located in Brooklyn and has a capacity of 17,732. Prior to Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets called the New Jersey Nets and have several different venues as their home court: the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey from 2010 through 2012, the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ from 1981–2010 and even the Rutgers University Athletic Center from 1977–1981 in Piscataway.