This was one for the tank brigade. 

In a game with all kinds of draft implications, the Nets got routed 116-86 by fellow lottery laggards Toronto before a crowd of 16,413 at Barclays Center on Wednesday night. 

The Nets never led and trailed by as many as 32, dominated by ball pressure. 

RJ Barrett goes up for a layup during the Nets’ 116-86 blowout loss to the Raptors on March 26, 2025. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

The Nets (23-50) kept pace with the tanking 76ers for fifth in the lottery odds, and moved three games “ahead” of these seventh-place Raptors. 

Playing without Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson and Day’Ron Sharpe, Nic Claxton led the way with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

But the Nets had little offense, shooting just 35.6 percent and 8-for-41 from deep. 

Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) reacts in the second half against the Toronto Raptors. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Noah Clowney and the Nets took a loss on Wednesday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The Nets were outscored a staggering 30-7 off turnovers. 

“Even though we sit here at 23-50, we understand what we’re trying to build, and what we’re trying to work towards. And it ain’t gonna happen overnight,” Trendon Watford said. “Obviously we don’t want to be this team that gets smashed by 30. But we know what we’ve got to do. And we don’t want to be this team. So we’ve just gotta lock in these next nine games and work towards what we’re trying to do. We’ve been a team that formed an identity all season, so we can’t let that slip just because we got nine games left. 

“So we’ve just got to be who we’ve been this whole season and win or lose we can’t go out like we went out [Wednesday].” 

Despite a sore wrist, Noah Clowney stepped into the lineup in place of Johnson, and had just five points on 1-for-9 shooting, including 1-for-6 from deep. 

A.J. Lawson slams home a dunk past Maxwell Lewis (27) during the Nets’ blowout loss to the Raptors. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

“He was not comfortable. He was shooting with his wrist taped. He was getting frustrated and I’m asking him to not be frustrated,” coach Jordi Fernández said. 

Center Orlando Robinson had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors (26-47), who had six scorers in double figures. 

Brooklyn allowed eight unanswered points to fall behind 26-12 with two minutes left in the first quarter. 

Maxwell Lewis shoots a jumper over Jonathan Mogbo (2) and forward Jamison Battle (77) during the Nets’ blowout loss to the Raptors. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

Dariq Whitehead (nine points), recalled from G-League Long Island, hit a 3-pointer to pull Brooklyn within 32-26. 

And Watford’s and-one capped a 10-2 run to make it 34-29. 

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But the Nets fell behind 93-68 on a free throw by Scottie Barnes (15 points, seven rebounds and five assists).

Toronto’s lead reached 32 points in the fourth quarter. 

“I’m not going to just be disappointed because of one game. … We are process oriented from ownership to management to the coaches, and our process is to work and then do it multiple times,” Fernández said. “Do we like to lose? No. Do we like to lose like this? No. But these guys work every day and have competed more times than they haven’t. 

Orlando Robinson, who scored a game-high 23 points, slams home a dunk during the Nets’ blowout loss to the Raptors. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

Orlando Robinson slams one down in the second half. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

“Obviously we all want to win and they’re not happy. And I’m not happy [right now]. But I’m going to show up [Thursday], and they’re going to show up, and the energy is going to be good and we’re going to work.”