It may have been the last game before the All-Star break, but that did not mean that Nets or Raptors were going to take the night off.

Toronto came to Barclays Center riding a 15-game winning streak and looking to add one more, but Brooklyn had an opportunity to gain some momentum.

? @SDinwiddie_25 with a DART out in transition to @CarisLeVert ? pic.twitter.com/gWm6Iz1rra

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 13, 2020

The Nets emerged victorious in the defensive slugfest on Wednesday, 101-91, over the Raptors. It was not a high-scoring affair, but it was still an edge-of-your-seat affair down to the final buzzer.

Brooklyn jumped out to an early lead, but not in a fashion that most would expect. This team is known for its reliance on three-point shooting, but the long ball was simply not falling. The Nets shot 9-for-35 from beyond-the-arc, good for 25.7 percent. Despite this, they never let the Raptors storm back into the lead with outstanding defensive effort.

H I S
B
I @CarisLeVert A
S B A G pic.twitter.com/9YCRcar8f0
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 13, 2020

Toronto failed to find an offensive identity in this game and were held to 38.2 percent shooting from the floor. Couple their struggles with the fact that the Nets outrebounded the Raptors 55-42, and the picture becomes clear.

The Nets outhustled and outworked Toronto.

Outside ➡️? Inside@DeAndre | #WeGoHard pic.twitter.com/eOhg3ARutn

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 13, 2020

This game was tremendous for Brooklyn. It was a strong team effort against the second-best squad in the Eastern Conference standings. The hope for fans is that the team will build on this showing with the addition of Kyrie Irving after the All-Star break.

Whether it will happen that smoothly remains to be seen, but in the meantime, this is still a great example of how potent the Nets can be defensively when they lock-in. It is now that point of the season — lock-in time.

FIST PUMP AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE ?? pic.twitter.com/bnyno1n2Uv
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 13, 2020

DeAndre Jordan

A

The stats: 7 PTS, 3-6 FG, 1-1 FT, 10 REB, 4 AST, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 23 MIN

In a game headlined by the defense, DeAndre Jordan was an absolute rock.

DJ hook had the bench ???? pic.twitter.com/6p3pBzgF7Y

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 13, 2020

Oh man, was that a pretty hook!

Jordan has become more accommodated to Brooklyn’s system as the season has gone on, and it showed Wednesday night. While Jarrett Allen has made strides this year, having a big body to bog down the paint is always a boon.

Caris LeVert

B+

The stats: 20 PTS, 10-20 FG, 0-4 3PT, 7 REB, 4 AST, 4 STL, 1 BLK, 5 TO, 36 MIN

Caris LeVert is making the most out of his newly acquired “green light”.

Caris COLD ❄️ pic.twitter.com/lvDmZKFWgM

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 13, 2020

His slump had been one of the defining stories of this season, but LeVert seems to be snapping out of it at the perfect point. The real test will be if he is able to keep this momentum going coming back from the All-Star break. His performance could make or break this season for Brooklyn.

Jarrett Allen

A

The stats: 10 PTS, 3-6 FG, 4-5 FT, 13 REB, 3 AST, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 20 MIN

Jarrett Allen was the other half of the defensive dynamic duo with Jordan, but he was no Robin.

JA + 1 pic.twitter.com/6UkwN2utB6

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 13, 2020

The biggest question mark for Allen coming into this season was his size and toughness. Right out of the gate, some were quick to condemn him for seemingly not progressing as quickly as many expected. Over the course of the season, however, it is clear that he has improved.

The Fro is now able to hold his own against centers that once dominated him physically. His presence on the boards Wednesday night was one of the deciding factors in the Nets snapping the Raptors’ streak.