RAPTOR NOTES
• The Toronto Raptors travel to Oklahoma City on Wednesday to face the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The two teams met in late December with the Thunder edging the Raptors by a score of 98-97. Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet led the team with 20 points apiece, while Serge Ibaka grabbed a seasonhigh 14 rebounds in the game. The Raptors and Thunder split the season-series in 2018-19 with the road team winning both contests. The visiting team has won the last four meetings between the two teams. Toronto will play 10-of-15 games on the road in January, their busiest road month of the season.
• Serge Ibaka recorded his career-long eighth straight double-double Sunday vs. San Antonio. He scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed season high-tying 14 rebounds in 32 minutes against the Spurs. Ibaka is just the third player in Raptors history to record a double-double in eight straight games, joining Chris Bosh (five times) and Donyell Marshall. Bosh holds the franchise record with a double-double in 10 straight games (Mar. 26 – Apr. 13, 2007). All 12 of Ibaka’s double-doubles this season have come in the last 18 games (Dec. 9 – Jan. 12). He is averaging 19.1 points and 11.5 rebounds over the last eight contests.
• Kyle Lowry will play in his 526th game as a Raptor on Wednesday, moving him into third place on the franchise’s all-time games played list – behind only DeMar DeRozan (675) and Morris Peterson (542). Lowry finished with 16 points and a season-high 15 assists Jan. 12 vs. San Antonio. Lowry has now dished out five or more assists in each of his 28 games this season, the longest single-season streak of that kind in his career. The only other players who had at least five assists in 25 straight games within a season for the Raptors are Damon Stoudamire (40-game streak in 1995–96) and Calderon (25-game streak in 2007–08 and 44-game streak in 2010–11).
• Pascal Siakam (groin; stretch) and Norman Powell (left shoulder; subluxation) returned to the lineup Sunday for the first time since being injured Dec. 18 at Detroit. Toronto went 6-5 in their absence. Siakam finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Spurs, while Powell recorded 20 points and four assists. It was Powell’s eighth 20-point performance of the season, a mark he achieved four times in 51 games last season. Siakam ranked third among all Eastern Conference frontcourt players in the second fan returns of NBA All-Star voting.
• The Raptors currently rank third in the NBA averaging 17.6 fast-break points per game. The Thunder rank 30th in the league in that category (9.4 points per game), however they lead the NBA in fast-break points allowed (10.9 points per game). Oklahoma City outscored Toronto 9-8 on the fast-break in their first meeting. Pascal Siakam is tied with Russell Westbrook and Devin Booker for third in the NBA averaging 4.5 fast-break points, behind only Gianni Antetokounmpo (6.4) and LeBron James (4.7)
. • Reserve Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has led the bench in scoring in four of the last five games (Jan. 2-12). Hollis-Jefferson is averaging 9.6 points and 5.6 rebounds during this stretch.
• Rookie Terence Davis ll is the only Raptors player to appear in every game this season. Davis leads all rookies in +/- rating (+180) and ranks eighth with a .382 three-point percentage (47-for-123).
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – OG ANUNOBY #3
MIN: 30.0 REB: 5.8 AST: 1.6 STL: 1.1 TO: 1.2 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 11.0
• Finished with eight points, three rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes Jan. 12 vs. San Antonio. • Toronto is 16-4 this season when Anunoby scores 10 or more points. • Shooting a career-best .496 (167-333) from the field, including .509 (27-53) over the last six games.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 36.4 REB: 7.9 AST: 3.6 STL: 0.9 TO: 2.6 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 24.7
• Contributed with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes Jan. 12 vs. San Antonio. • Ranks 12th in the NBA in scoring (24.7) and fourth in minutes per game (36.4). • Has scored 30+ points 10 times; had five 30-point performances in 80 games played last season.
C – SERGE IBAKA #9
MIN: 26.5 REB: 8.6 AST: 1.2 STL: 0.4 TO: 2.0 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 15.1
• Recorded team-leading 12th double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds Jan. 12 vs. San Antonio. • Averaging 18.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 32.4 minutes in 12 games as a starter. • Shooting .518 (43-83) from the field, including .467 (7-15) from three-point range, through five games in January.
G – NORMAN POWELL #24
MIN: 29.0 REB: 3.9 AST: 1.8 STL: 1.1 TO: 1.6 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 14.6
• Tallied 20 points and four assists Jan. 12 vs. San Antonio – his eighth 20-point effort of the season. • In 17 starts, averaging 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 31.5 minutes. • Has scored 20+ points in four of his last five games played (Dec. 11 – Jan. 12); averaging 20.4 points.
G – KYLE LOWRY #7
MIN: 38.5 REB: 4.5 AST: 7.8 STL: 1.2 TO: 3.0 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 20.6
• Tallied 16 points and a season-best 15 assists for sixth double-double of the season Jan. 12 vs. San Antonio. • Tied for sixth in the NBA in assist per game (7.8); averaging 11.3 assists over the last three games (Jan. 7-12). • Has made at least two three-pointers in 15 straight games (Dec. 14 – Jan. 12); totaled 52 threes during this span.
INJURY REPORT
Marc Gasol (Left hamstring; strain) – TBD Dewan Hernandez (Right ankle; sprain) – TBD Fred VanVleet (Right hamstring; strain) – TBD
The view from left field 