Veteran forward Cam Johnson ignites for 32 points in Nets preseason finale against Raptors

The Nets fell to the Toronto Raptors 116-112 connected Friday astatine Barclays Center and wrapped up their 2024-25 preseason docket with a 1-3 record. While the squad had its struggles arsenic a full astatine some ends of the tribunal successful the loss, seasoned guardant Cam Johnson played lights retired connected discourtesy from commencement to finish, though.

Johnson’s aboriginal with the rebuilding Nets was questioned passim the full offseason. Against the Raptors, helium showed wherefore antithetic teams astir the league person been flirting with the thought of perchance trading for him.

The 28-year-old enjoyed his champion preseason show by acold — and truly 1 of the champion violative performances of his vocation — finishing with 32 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists successful 32 minutes.

Johnson archetypal 21 points came successful the archetypal half. He went 11-of-21 from the tract overall, knocked down 7 treys, and reminded wide managers astir the league that helium tin beryllium an elite catch-and-shoot subordinate erstwhile healthy. He had scored astatine slightest 30 points successful a crippled 3 times entering Friday’s matchup.

Brooklyn changeable 41.8% from the tract and 31% from 3-point scope against Toronto. The Raptors changeable 48.9%% from the tract and were paced by 21 points, six rebounds and 3 assists from fourth-year guardant Scottie Barnes.

While Friday was Johnson’s champion violative crippled of the preseason, helium had looked a batch amended astatine some ends of the tribunal this preseason overall. Lower assemblage injuries affected his quality to find his shooting bushed past season. He looked overmuch amended physically implicit this four-game stretch, moving much fluidly connected the court. And with his longtime moving mate Mikal Bridges present playing crossed the span successful Manhattan, possibly this volition beryllium the play Johnson steps into a larger relation and gets his ratio backmost connected track.

If determination are teams astir the league zeroing successful connected acquiring Johnson, Friday was a masterful showcase of his talents. It was conscionable a preseason game, sure, but possibly Sean Marks’ asking terms went up aft that performance.

Johnson and his chap starters played heavy into the 4th fourth successful their last tune-up up of the regular season. The adjacent 1 is for real. The Nets volition unfastened the 2024-25 play connected Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks astatine State Farm Arena.