RAPTORS NOTES
• The Toronto Raptors continue a five-game Western Conference trip (Nov. 8-16) Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. This matches Toronto’s longest road trip of the season. The Raptors will also play five in a row on the road March 1-9. Toronto’s next home is Monday, Nov. 18 vs. Charlotte. The Raptors play eight of 13 games on the road in the month of November.
• The Raptors have won seven of the past eight meetings with Portland, including four straight at home. The two teams split the season-series in 2018-19 with the home team winning both games. Pascal Siakam averaged 13.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in two games against the Trail Blazers last season.
• Toronto was 11-4 on the road vs. Western Conference opponents last season. The Raptors are the only Eastern Conference team to finish with a +.500 record on the road against the West each of the past four seasons (2015-19). Since the start of the 2015-16 campaign, Toronto is 37-26 (.587) when facing a Western Conference opponent on the road.
• Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 44 minutes Monday night against the Clippers. Siakam has now recorded a double-double in four straight games (Nov. 6-11) – the longest of his career. He is averaging 26.8 points and 11.0 rebounds during this stretch.
• Fred VanVleet ranks 14th in the NBA with a 3.21 assists-per-turnover ratio (77-to-24). VanVleet has had at least four more assists than turnovers in each of the last six games (Oct. 30 – Nov. 11). During this span, VanVleet has totaled 52 assists compared to just 12 turnovers.
• The Raptors rank first in the NBA in opponent field goal percentage (.406). Toronto has held its opponent below 40 per cent shooting from the floor four times this season.
• Chris Boucher led the reserves in scoring for the second straight game (Nov. 10-11) with 13 points in 22 minutes Nov. 11 at LA Clippers. Boucher matched his career high with 15 points Sunday against the Lakers. Boucher was named the 2018-19 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player to win both awards in the same season.
• Pascal Siakam was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Nov. 4-10 – earning the honour for the second time in his career. Siakam averaged team highs of 30.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in three victories. He posted at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in all three games, and tied his career high with 44 points Nov. 8 at New Orleans.
• Kyle Lowry (distal phalanx fracture – left thumb) and Serge Ibaka (right ankle sprain) both sustained injuries Nov. 8 at New Orleans. Lowry will be re-evaluated in two weeks, while Ibaka is out indefinitely.
• Patrick McCaw underwent arthroscopic surgery Nov. 6 to remove a benign mass on the back of the knee. A timetable for McCaw’s return has not been established. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
• OG Anunoby left the game early in the first quarter and did not return Nov. 11 at LA Clippers after being poked in the right eye. • Has scored 10 or more points six times, including a season-high 21 points Nov. 8 at New Orleans. • Ranks fourth in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (.528); has made multiple threes in five games.
POSSIBLE STARTERS
F-RONDAE HOLLIS-JEFFERSON #4
• Recorded nine points and season highs of nine rebounds and three steals Nov. 11 at LA Clippers.
• Averaging 9.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 22.0 minutes over the last two games (Nov. 10-11).
• In 21 starts last season with Brooklyn, posted averages of 11.1 points and 6.0 rebounds in 26.8 minutes.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
• Posted fourth straight double-double with team highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds Nov. 11 at LA Clippers.
• Has recorded four games of 30+ points; had five 30-point performances last season.
• Tied for eighth in the NBA in scoring (26.3) and fourth in minutes per game (36.2).
C – MARC GASOL #33
• Finished with eight points, five rebounds and a season high-tying five assists Nov. 11 at LA Clippers.
• Needs 14 points to reach 12,000 career points in the NBA.
• Has collected 10+ rebounds three times, including a season-high 12 rebounds Nov. 2 at Milwaukee.
G – NORMAN POWELL #24
• Contributed 15 points, four rebounds and two assists in second straight start Nov. 11 at LA Clippers.
• Averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 31.5 minutes in two starts this season.
• Has scored in double figures in three straight games (Nov. 8-11); averaging 15.7 points during this stretch.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23
• Totaled 14 points, eight assists and three steals in a career-high 45 minutes Nov. 11 at LA Clippers.
• Has recorded at least five assists in all 10 games this season – the longest streak of his career.
• Ranks seventh in the NBA in assists (7.7) and second in minutes per game (38.2).
INJURY REPORT OG Anunoby (Right eye contusion) – Out. Serge Ibaka (Right ankle sprain) – Out Kyle Lowry (Distal phalanx fracture – left thumb) – Out Patrick McCaw (Left knee surgery) – Out
SERIES RECAP VS. PORTLAND
OVERALL
HOME ROAD
2018-19 1-1 1-0 0-1
ALL-TIME 17-28 10-13 7-15
LAST WIN: March 1, 2019 (119-117)
LAST ROAD WIN: October 30, 2017 (99-85)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +36, January 28, 1997
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -24, January 4, 2000
LAST TIME VS. PORTLAND
GAME 63 – MARCH 1, 2019 TORONTO 119, PORTLAND 117
TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard scored the go-ahead basket with three seconds remaining and the Raptors held on to beat the Trail Blazers 119-117 … Leonard scored 38 points and Kyle Lowry had 19 points and 10 assists as the Raptors won for the ninth time in 10 games … Marc Gasol scored 19 points and Pascal Siakam had 16 for Toronto, which has won four straight home meetings with Portland and seven of the past eight overall … C.J. McCollum scored 35 points and matched a career best by making seven 3-pointers for Portland … Damian Lillard scored 24 points and Jake Layman had 13 for the Trail Blazers … Ahead 93-84 to begin the fourth, the Raptors missed nine consecutive field goal attempts, allowing Portland to close to within one, 95-94, on a 3-pointer by Lillard at 6:47 … Leonard ended Toronto’s drought with a layup, but the Raptors couldn’t hold the lead, and Lillard tied it 103-all with another 3 at 3:27 … Lillard made another tying 3 with 13 seconds left, but Leonard won it with his baseline jumper … By the time Portland inbounded the ball, there was barely enough time for a full-court heave … The Raptors connected on 11 of 17 shots in the first quarter and led 31-24 after one … Leonard scored 10 points in the second and Toronto led 61-54 at halftime.
NEXT GAME : At Dallas Mavericks Date: Saturday, November 16, 2019
TRAIL BLAZERS NOTES:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 28-17 IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 15-7 AT TORONTO : Trail Blazers lead, 13-10 LAST PORTLAND WIN: 128-122, 12/14/18 (Por.) LAST RAPTORS WIN: 119-117, 3/1/19 (Tor.) CURRENT WIN STREAK: One (Tor.)
• Wednesday’s game marks the first of two regular season games between the Trail Blazers and the Raptors during the 2019-20 season.
• LAST SEASON: Portland and Toronto split the season series in 2018-19, 1-1. • In two games against Toronto last season, CJ McCollum averaged 24.5 points (50.0% FG, 56.3% 3-PT, 100% FT), 2.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.00 steals.
• Damian Lillard averaged 24.0 points (59.3% FG, 66.7% 3-PT, 90.9% FT), 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in two games against the Raptors during the 2018-19 season.
• In two games against the Trail Blazers last season, Pascal Siakam averaged 13.0 points (43.8% FG, 50.0% 3-PT, 80.0% FT), 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
In his lone game against Portland last season, Fred VanVleet recorded 21 points (711 FG, 3-5 3-PT, 4-5 FT) to go with four rebounds and eight assists.
CONNECTION: Toronto center Marc Gasol is the younger brother of Trail Blazers center Pau Gasol.
• CONNECTION: Trail Blazers center Pau Gasol and Raptors guard Kyle Lowry were teammates for one-plus season
LAST GAME STARTERS
Forward 24 Kent Bazemore 6-5 200
LAST GAME: Scored 12 points (3-8 FG, 1-4 3-PT, 5-6 FT) to go with fi ve rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 33 minutes … 2019-20 HIGHLIGHTS: Scored 14 points at Oklahoma City on Oct. 30 … Had 13 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks against Atlanta on Nov. 10.
8.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.5 apg
Forward 44 Mario Hezonja 6-8 220
5.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.2 apg
LAST GAME: Finished with two points (1-4 FG), three rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes … 2019-20 HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded 11 points and 12 rebounds against Philadelphia on Nov. 2 … Scored 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-5 3-PT) at Golden State on Nov 4.
Center 21 Hassan Whiteside 7-1 265
15.1 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 0.8 apg
LAST GAME: Had 17 points (7-9 FG, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds and one assist in 21 minutes … 2019-20 HIGHLIGHTS: Logged 16 points and 19 rebounds against Denver on Oct. 23 … Had 22 points and nine rebounds at Sacramento on Oct. 25.
Forward
Guard 3 CJ McCollum 6-3 190
20.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg
LAST GAME: Logged 24 points (11-21 FG, 1-5 3-PT, 1-4 FT), fi ve rebounds, one assist, and one block in 37 minutes … 2019-20 HIGHLIGHTS: Logged 35 points, six rebounds and four assists at Dallas on Oct. 27 … Scored 19 points at Sacramento on Oct. 25.
Guard 0 Damian Lillard 6-3 195
32.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.6 apg
LAST GAME: Recorded 27 points (6-10 FG, 2-5 3-PT, 13-14 FT), four rebounds, fi ve assists, two steals and one block in 38 minutes… 2019-20 HIGHLIGHTS: Scored 60 points and had fi ve assists vs. Brooklyn on Nov. 8 … Had 35 points and five assists at Sacramento on Oct. 25
LAST FIVE GAMES / NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mon. Nov. 4 GOLDEN STATE 127, Portland 118
Thu. Nov. 7 LA CLIPPERS 107, Portland 101
Fri. Nov. 8 Brooklyn 119, PORTLAND 115
Sun. Nov. 10 PORTLAND 124, Atlanta 113 (OT)
Tue. Nov. 12 SACRAMENTO 107, Portland 99
Wed. Nov. 13 Toronto 7:00 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 16 at San Antonio 5:30 p.m.
Mon. Nov. 18 at Houston 5:00 p.m
. Tue. Nov. 19 at New Orleans 5:00 p.m.
Thu. Nov. 21 at Milwaukee 5:00 p.m.
The view from left field 