Category: NBA, Toronto Raptors, Pascal Siakam

CAVALIERS AT RAPTORS PREGAME NOTES: The Raptors held Oklahoma City to 98 points in Sunday’s loss. It was the 12th time this season that Toronto has limited its opponent to fewer than 100 points. The Raptors are 10-2 in those contests.

RAPTORS NOTES • The Toronto Raptors wave goodbye to 2019 when they welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. This is the second meeting between the two teams this month, with the Raptors taking the first contest 133-113 on Dec. 16. Kyle Lowry finished with 20 points and 11 assists, while Serge Ibaka contributed 14 points off the bench in the victory. Toronto has won four in a row against the Cavaliers at home. Lowry is averaging 20.3 points and 8.3 assists over his last three games vs. Cleveland. Toronto won the season-series against the Cavaliers in 2018-19, taking three of the four games. It was the Raptors first season-series win vs. Cleveland since 2015-2016.

• Kyle Lowry finished with 20 points in Sunday night’s tilt against Oklahoma City. It was the seventh time over the last eight games that Lowry has scored 20+ points. In those eight contests, Lowry is averaging 24.0 points, 8.3 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 39.6 minutes of play.

• Patrick McCaw has scored in double figures in three of his six games as a starter (Dec. 20-28). McCaw is averaging 9.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.8 steals over this stretch. He is also shooting .450 from three point range (9-for-20) as a starter. In his last two contests, McCaw has posted a .619 field goal percentage (13for-21) and is shooting .556 from behind the arc (5-for-9).

• Serge Ibaka recorded his second straight double-double and sixth of the season with 12 points and a season-high 14 rebounds Sunday night vs. Oklahoma City. All six of Ibaka’s double-doubles have come in December with four occurring over his last six games. Over this span, Ibaka is averaging 16.0 points and 9.3 rebounds while posting a .539 field goal percentage (41-for-76).

• Marc Gasol (left hamstring; strain), Pascal Siakam (groin; stretch) and Norman Powell (left shoulder; subluxation) were all injured Dec. 18 at Detroit. Toronto is 3-3 over the last six games without them. The Raptors are averaging 109.8 points and shooting .458 (235-for-513) from the field during this span.

• Terence Davis ll is one of the five rookies who’ve played in every game for their team this season, along with Darius Bazley (Oklahoma City), Darius Garland (Cleveland), Kendrick Nunn (Miami) and Coby White (Chicago). Only two rookies have played in every game of a season for the Raptors: Vince Carter in 1998– 99 (which was a lockout-shortened 50-game season) and Matt Bonner (2004–05).

• Kyle Lowry needs 100 assists to tie Jose Calderon (3,770) as the Raptors’ all-time leader in assists. Lowry is already the franchise leader in 3-point field goals (1,291), steals (773) and playoff victories (37). Lowry has recorded 10+ assists 110 times – second most in team history behind only Calderon (141).

• Toronto concludes its busiest month of the season tonight with its 16th game in December. This month’s schedule included three back-to-back sets. The Raptors’ 11 games at Scotiabank Arena tie the franchise record for most home games in a calendar month – Toronto also played 11 games at home in March 2016. The Raptors will play 10-of-15 games on the road in the month of January.

• The Raptors held Oklahoma City to 98 points in Sunday night’s loss. It was the 12th time this season that Toronto has limited its opponent to fewer than 100 points. The Raptors are 10-2 in those contests.

PROBABLE STARTERS

F – PATRICK McCAW #22

MIN: 26.6 REB: 2.5 AST: 1.8 STL: 1.3 TO: 1.3 BLK: 0.1 PTS: 6.3

• Recorded 13 points and two steals in 37 minutes of play Dec. 29 vs. Oklahoma City. • Averaging 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 32.0 minutes in six games as a starter. • Has played at least 20 minutes in a career-long nine straight games (Dec. 14-29).

F – OG ANUNOBY #3

MIN: 29.6 REB: 5.7 AST: 1.6 STL: 1.1 TO: 1.3 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 11.0

• Finished with six points, five rebounds and one steal in 26 minutes Dec. 29 vs. Oklahoma City. • Toronto is 14-3 this season when Anunoby scores 10 or more points (Last: 15 – Dec. 23 at Indiana). • Averaging 10.7 points (.457 FG%), 5.8 rebounds and 29.1 minutes through 15 games in December.

C – SERGE IBAKA #9

MIN: 24.8 REB: 7.9 AST: 1.3 STL: 0.5 TO: 2.0 BLK: 1.0 PTS: 13.8

• Posted sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds Dec. 29 vs. OKC. • Averaging 16.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 31.4 minutes in six games as a starter. • Has scored in double figures in 13-of-15 games in December; averaging 13.7 points this month.

G – KYLE LOWRY #7

MIN: 38.1 REB: 5.0 AST: 7.5 STL: 1.2 TO: 3.4 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 20.8

• Scored 20 points with five assists and three rebounds in 39 minutes Dec. 29 vs. Oklahoma City. • Averaging 20.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 39.3 minutes through 14 games in December. • Has scored 20+ points in seven of the last eight games (Dec. 16-29); averaging 24.0 points during this stretch.

G – FRED VANVLEET #23

MIN: 36.5 REB: 3.9 AST: 6.9 STL: 2.2 TO: 2.5 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 18.2

INJURY REPORT Marc Gasol (Left hamstring; strain) – Out Dewan Hernandez (Right ankle; sprain) – Out Norman Powell (Left shoulder; subluxation ) – Out Pascal Siakam (Groin; stretch) – Out Matt Thomas (Left middle finger; distal phalanx fracture) – Out.

CAVALIERS’ LAST GAME STARTERS

POS NO. PLAYER HT. WT. G GS PPG RPG APG FG% MPG

F 16 CEDI OSMAN 6-7 230 19-20: 32 32 9.9 3.3 2.2 .428 28.7

F 22 LARRY NANCE JR. 6-7 245 19-20: 29 5 8.4 7.2 1.5 .495 24.6

C 13 TRISTAN THOMPSON 6-9 254 19-20: 31 31 12.8 10.1 2.3 .503 31.3

G 2 COLLIN SEXTON 6-1 192 19-20: 32 32 17.9 3.3 2.4 .448 30.6

G 10 DARIUS GARLAND 6-1 192 19-20: 32 32 11.3 2.0 2.9 .399 28.2

NOTES

After defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves by a score of 94-88 on Saturday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers will wrap up their three-game road trip this New Year’s Eve when they take on the Toronto Raptors. This is the second of three matchups between the two teams this regular season (Jan. 30 at CLE).
• Cleveland enter tonight’s game as winners of four of their last five games, limiting their opponents to a combined .437 shooting from the field and outrebounding them by 10.0 boards (50.0-40.0) over that stretch (since Dec. 18). In Saturday’s victory at Minnesota, the Cavs held the Wolves to 88 points and an opponent season-low .355 (33-93) shooting from the field, including just 8-37 (.216) from three. Cleveland also outrebounded Minnesota 61-39 (+22), their biggest differential of the season and most since a 23-rebound edge (60-37) versus Charlotte on Nov. 13, 2018.
• The Wine & Gold’s 61 rebounds against Minnesota was a season-high (prev. 60 vs. MEM on Dec. 20). The last time Cleveland had that many rebounds in a game was over five years ago (61 at PHI on Feb. 18, 2014).


• UPCOMING MILESTONES:

TRISTAN THOMPSON (428 BLK) is 3 blocks away from passing Roy Hinson (430 BLK) for 6th place in franchise history. COLLIN SEXTON (1,944 PTS) needs 56 points to reach 2,000 for his career.
• DARIUS GARLAND, who had a game-high tying 18 points, three assists and two steals in 29 minutes at Minnesota, also set a career high in FG% on Saturday night (.727, 8-11). In the first meeting against Toronto (Dec. 16), Garland finished with 20 points (7-14 FG, 4-8 3FG), five assists and two steals in 38 minutes of work. He has also poured in at least 14 points in four of the last six games.


• COLLIN SEXTON also recorded 18 points on Saturday, to go along with a season-high tying seven rebounds and one steal in 34 minutes. Over the last eight games, he is averaging 19.6 points (.484 FG%, .829 FT%), 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.25 steals in 31.5 minutes (since Dec. 12). In the first matchup versus the Raptors, Sexton posted a team-high 25 points (10-16 FG), five rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes of play.


• TRISTAN THOMPSON is coming off of his team-best 16th double-double of the season on Saturday (12 PTS, season-high tying 15 REB, 3 AST, 1 BLK, 8-10 FT, 35 MIN). He has grabbed 10+ rebounds in four of the last five games, averaging 12.0 rebounds to go with 10.2 points and 2.0 assists in 33.2 minutes over that stretch (since Dec. 18). He also had a solid outing in the Dec. 16th game in Toronto (18 PTS, 9-14 FG, 8 REB, 3 AST, 32 MIN).


• KEVIN PORTER JR. has scored in double figures in a career-high three straight games, averaging 13.7 points on .517 (15-29) shooting from the field, a .818 (9-11) mark from the foul line, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steal in 26.0 minutes during that span. Porter Jr. has seven double-digit scoring performances in the month of December after having two in October/November.

LARRY NANCE JR. had a near double-double in the win at Minnesota (9 PTS, 4-7 FG, 9 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 31 MIN). As a starter this season (five games), Nance Jr. is averaging 12.0 points and 10.8 rebounds in 34.4 minutes per night.


• In his two games as a Cavalier, Dante Exum is shooting .600 (6-10) from the field and averaging 8.5 points and 1.50 steals in 15.7 minutes.

Raptors trying to hold the fort without Siakam and company — Toronto Sun

The Christmas present for the Toronto Raptors was getting a reprieve from a gruelling schedule. Wednesday’s 118-102 loss against Boston was the team’s third game in four nights, including an overtime battle in Indiana and a record-setting comeback against Dallas. Read More

Raptors trying to hold the fort without Siakam and company — Toronto Sun

Woz Blog: How Raptors roster shakes out post-injuries — Toronto Sun

So, now we have the first idea of how Nick Nurse is going to try to get by without key starters Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol and minus top reserve guard Norman Powell, who had been playing the best basketball of his career starting in place of Fred VanVleet. Nurse favourite Patrick McCaw drew into…

Woz Blog: How Raptors roster shakes out post-injuries — Toronto Sun

Gulp! Raptors lose Siakam, Gasol and Powell indefinitely to injuries — Toronto Sun

DETROIT — We can now say for sure that Wednesday’s trip to Detroit was an abject disaster for the Raptors, despite the victory. “It’s too bad. A win with a heavy price, to be honest,” Raptors head coach Nick Nurse had said afterward, and now we know just how heavy. The fact that Marc Gasol […]

Gulp! Raptors lose Siakam, Gasol and Powell indefinitely to injuries — Toronto Sun

WIZARDS AT RAPTORS NOTES: SIAKAM, GASOL, POWELL OUT INDEFINITELY FOR TORONT0

INJURY REPORTS AT 1:30 P.M. FRIDAY

Toronto Raptors Gasol, Marc Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Strain Johnson, Stanley Out Injury/Illness – Left Groin; Stress reaction Ponds, Shamorie Out G League – Two-Way Powell, Norman Out Injury/Illness – Left Shoulder; Subluxation Siakam, Pascal Out Injury/Illness – Groin; Stretch Thomas, Matt Out Injury/Illness – Left Finger; Middle; fracture – distal phalanx VanVleet, Fred Questionable Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Contusion

Washington Wizards Bryant, Thomas Out Injury/Illness – Right Foot; Right foot stress reaction Hachimura, Rui Out Injury/Illness – Groin; Groin injury McRae, Jordan Out Injury/Illness – Right Ring Finger; Right ring finger surgery Miles, CJ Out Injury/Illness – Left Wrist; Left Wrist Surgery Robinson, Justin Out G League – On Assignment Wagner, Moritz Out Injury/Illness – Left Ankle; Sprained left ankle Wall, John Out Injury/Illness – Left Achilles; Left Achilles rehab

RAPTORS NOTES

• The Toronto Raptors host the Washington Wizards on Friday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors swept the season-series (4-0) with Washington in 2018-19 for the third time in the last five seasons. Since 2014-15, Toronto is 15-3 vs. the Wizards during the regular-season. The Raptors have won three in a row over Washington at home. Kyle Lowry averaged 17.3 points, 11.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds in four games against the Wizards last season.

• The Raptors currently ranks second in the NBA averaging 10.0 steals in December (nine games), behind only Chicago (10.4). Norman Powell leads the team with 17 steals this month. Toronto has now finished with more steals than its opponent in each of the last 10 games (Nov. 29 – Dec. 18). It’s the longest streak in the NBA team this season and is the second-longest such stretch in Raptors history. Toronto had more steals than its opponent in 11 consecutive games in 2007–08.

• Kyle Lowry recorded his first triple-double of the season, and 13th in a Raptors uniform, with 20 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in 39 minutes Dec. 18 at Detroit. Lowry’s 13 triple-doubles are now one more than all other Raptors combined. The last player to record a triple-double for Toronto other than Lowry was Jose Calderon on Dec. 16, 2012 vs. Houston. The Raptors have won the last 10 regular-season games in which Lowry has tallied at least 20 points and 10 assists in the same game.

• Toronto outscored Detroit 15-10 on the fast-break Wednesday night and currently sit second in the NBA in fast-break points per game (19.3), trailing only Milwaukee (19.5). Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell are both among the NBA leaders in fast-break points this season. TOP-FIVE: Giannis Antetokounmpo (177), Lebron James (142), Siakam (123), Ben Simmons (107) and Powell (106).

• Pascal Siakam recorded a team-high 26 points, five rebounds and tied a career high with four blocks Dec. 18 at Detroit. Siakam has now scored 20+ points in a career-long five straight games (Dec. 9-18). He is averaging 27.0 points, while shooting .500 (17-for-34) from three-point range during this stretch.

• Serge Ibaka scored a season-high 25 points and led the Raptors with 13 rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench Wednesday night at Detroit. The last time Ibaka had 25+ points and 13+ rebounds in the same game was Nov. 14, 2013 at Golden State when he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

• Patrick McCaw has played at least 20 minutes in three straight games for the first time since March 2018, when he had a streak of five consecutive games with 20 or more minutes with the Golden State Warriors.

• December is Toronto’s busiest month of the season with 16 games and includes three back-to-back sets. The Raptors’ 11 games at Scotiabank Arena tie the franchise record for most home games in a calendar month . Toronto also played 11 games at home in March 2016. For the first time the Raptors will play at home Christmas Day when they host the Boston Celtics.

• Pascal Siakam is one of five players in the NBA averaging 24.0+ points, 8.0+ rebounds and 3.0+ assists this season, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic and Karl-Anthony Towns. No Raptor has ever averaged 24.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists throughout an entire season.

POSSIBLE STARTERS

F – OG ANUNOBY #3

MIN: 29.9 REB: 5.7 AST: 1.7 STL: 1.2 TO: 1.2 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 11.3

• Finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes Dec. 18 at Detroit. • Toronto is 13-2 this season when Anunoby scores 10 or more points (Last: 19 – Dec. 18 at Detroit). • Shooting .619 (13-for-21) from the field over the last two games (Dec. 16-18).

F – CHRIS BOUCHER #25

MIN: 11.4 REB: 3.9 AST: 0.5 STL: 0.3 TO: 0.3 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 5.1

• Tallied two points and one rebound in six minutes Dec. 18 at Detroit. • Has scored in double figures off the bench six times this season and posted three double-doubles. • Named NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year in 2018-19.

C – SERGE IBAKA #9

MIN: 22.4 REB: 7.4 AST: 1.3 STL: 0.5 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 13.1

• Contributed a season-high 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench Dec. 18 at Detroit. • Has led the reserves in scoring a team-high 13 times, including each of the last three games (Dec. 14-18). • Averaged 16.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 29.5 minutes in 51 starts last season for Toronto.

G – PATRICK McCAW #22

MIN: 21.2 REB: 2.0 AST: 1.7 STL: 0.7 TO: 1.2 BLK: 0.0 PTS: 3.0

• Totaled two points, three rebounds, and two assists in 27 minutes as a reserve Dec. 18 at Detroit. • Missed 17 games (Nov. 6 – Dec. 9) earlier this year following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. • Averaging 6.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 24.8 minutes in 31 career games as a starter.

G – KYLE LOWRY #7

MIN: 37.4 REB: 5.0 AST: 7.3 STL: 1.3 TO: 2.9 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 19.1

• Recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds in 39 minutes Dec. 18 at Detroit. • Passed Antonio Davis (110) for third on the Raptors’ all-time double-doubles list against the Pistons. • Averaging 16.4 points and 8.0 assists in eight games (Dec. 3-18) since returning from a left thumb injury.

INJURY REPORT Marc Gasol (Left hamstring; strain) – Out Stanley Johnson (Left groin; stress reaction) – Out Norman Powell (Left shoulder; subluxation ) – Out Pascal Siakam (Groin; stretch) – Out Matt Thomas (Left middle finger; distal phalanx fracture) – Out Fred VanVleet (right knee contusion) – Que

RAPTORS INJURY UPDATES

The Raptors provided the following injury updates on Thursday:

  • Marc Gasol sustained a strained left hamstring in the first quarter of play Wednesday, Dec. 18 at Detroit. He was reevaluated on Thursday and it was determined he will be out indefinitely.
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  • With 6:47 to play in the fourth quarter, Pascal Siakam sustained a stretched groin after an awkward landing. He was evaluated Thursday and will be listed as out indefinitely.
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  • Norman Powell left the same game with 3:17 to play in the fourth quarter after a collision with another player. After testing in Toronto on Thursday, it was determined he had sustained a subluxation of the left shoulder. He will also be out indefinitely.

All three players will be reevaluated over the coming weeks and their conditions updated as necessary.

-RAPTORS-

WIZARDS PROBABLE STARTERS

WIZARDS NOTES

ISAAC BONGA

• Tied a career high with six rebounds on 12/18 vs. CHI • Tied career highs in points, rebounds and steals on 12/16 at DET

• Has improved in every statistical category this season over his rookie campaign.

DAVIS BERTANS

• Became the fifth-fastest player in NBA history to 100 3-pointers (26 games) • Is the fastest Wizard to 100 3-pointers, breaking Gilbert Arenas’ previous record of 31 games

• Ranks second in the NBA with three games of seven or more makes from behind the arc.

IAN MAHINMI

• Has multiple blocked shots in three of his last five games • On 12/14 at MEM, made his first start since 10/30/18

BRADLEY BEAL • On 12/18 vs. CHI, recorded his 50th game of 20/5/5 in the last three seasons • Has 16 games with 20+ points and five-plus assists, the second-highest total in the Eastern Conference • One of four players this season with multiple 35-point, 10-assist games • No. 5 in the NBA with 27.6 ppg .

ISAIAH THOMAS

• Returned to the starting lineup on 12/16 at DET after missing four games with a calf injury; put up 23 points and knocked down five shots from deep • Hit the 3,000th field goal of his career on 12/16 at DET.


STARTERS AVERAGES VS. TORONTO RAPTORS

Bonga: N/A career / N/A (18-19)

Bertans: 8.4 pts, 2.2 reb, 1.0 ast (career) / 10.5 pts, 3.5 reb, 0.5 ast (18-19) Mahinmi: 4.7 pts, 4.0 reb, 0.6 ast (career) / 3.0 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.0 ast (18-19)

Beal: 23.4 pts, 4.7 reb, 4.9 ast (career) / 30.8 pts, 5.0 reb, 9.5 ast (18-19) Thomas: 20.1 pts, 2.3 reb, 5.3 ast (career) / N/A (18-19)

Siakam, Powell, Gasol out indefinitely

RAPTORS INJURY UPDATES

The Raptors provided the following injury updates on Thursday:

  • Marc Gasol sustained a strained left hamstring in the first quarter of play Wednesday, Dec. 18 at Detroit. He was reevaluated on Thursday and it was determined he will be out indefinitely.
  • With 6:47 to play in the fourth quarter, Pascal Siakam sustained a stretched groin after an awkward landing. He was evaluated Thursday and will be listed as out indefinitely.
  • Norman Powell left the same game with 3:17 to play in the fourth quarter after a collision with another player. After testing in Toronto on Thursday, it was determined he had sustained a subluxation of the left shoulder. He will also be out indefinitely.

All three players will be reevaluated over the coming weeks and their conditions updated as necessary.

-RAPTORS-

Nurse and Casey talk Siakam’s superstar ascent as a Raptor — Toronto Sun

DETROIT — Could Pascal Siakam win the NBA’s most improved player award two years in a row? Nick Nurse doesn’t see why not. “I don’t think it’s crazy. I think he’s probably got to be in the conversation,” the Raptors head coach said before Wednesday’s win over the Detroit Pistons. “I’m sure there are a […]

Nurse and Casey talk Siakam’s superstar ascent as a Raptor — Toronto Sun

RAPTORS 133, CAVS 113 QUOTES FROM BOTH TEAMS: “The same story again we’ve had the last few games playing a really, really good team that has a great plan, has incredible shooters, length, quickness, got it all. I saw it firsthand now with (Pascal) Siakam, who last year certainly was a second fiddle to Kawhi (Leonard), and that was quite a performance.” — JOHN BEILEIN.

(6-21) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS, 113 VS. (18-8) TORONTO RAPTORS, 133 SCOTIABANK ARENA MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

TORONTO RAPTORS QUOTES

NICK NURSE (HEAD COACH)

On the offence carrying the defence tonight … Yeah, I think there wasn’t a ton of defence going on, I think either way, and that’s okay. I thought again, you look at the numbers, we shot the ball well, 31 assists, so a lot of guys with some pretty good nights there. We will take a W, that’s for sure.

On what Norm Powell is doing differently… We talked about this already, I think the only thing is, that in open floor he is being decisive and putting the jets on and going to the rim and he is finishing. I think a few games ago he was looking around and trying to figure out where to go and who to throw it to and wasn’t making the right decision all the time. What I like is his speed when he sees the open floor and goes to it. Reminiscent of a few years ago.

On Powell’s finishing at the rim … It’s the decisions of ‘I am going for it,’ and now you’re not hesitating at anything or looking out of the corner of your eye, you are just really going. But I think more than anything it is just the speed, he just is accelerating by people and getting a little clearer shot maybe on most of them. He had a couple tonight where he had to move it around somebody or directly over somebody, but most of those when he gets an extra burst he gets clear and clean and he’s making them.

On Patrick McCaw… Again, they have some fast guards out there, so we needed some speed. He’s always an impactful player defensively and even though he is maybe not the greatest offensive player in the world, he is still a smart offensive player. He will cut, he’s a good passer, nice to see him knock down a couple tonight because he really, really put in a lot of work this summer on his shooting, and with the in and out with the injuries, he hasn’t had a real chance to get into some rhythm. So it was nice to see him knock them down. I just like his overall IQ, his athleticism and his defensive prowess.

NORMAN POWELL (26 points, six rebounds, five rebounds, four steals)

Does it feel like the offence is coming around the past few games? I think more so, we are getting into a groove defensively. That being tied together, being locked back in on that side of the ball, and then feeling the offence, just being able to get steals. Talking, communicating, playing with high energy, everybody focused on that end and just carrying over.

Are you more comfortable finishing at the rim now? I think I’m really comfortable, just being able to read what the defence is doing, how they are playing, where their bigs are at, whether it’s a finish or kick out or a drop off to the bigs. I’m just taking what the defence is giving me and being aggressive and thinking to try and go up there and dunk the ball. Even if I’m not dunking it, but that mindset gets me there aggressively and being able to finish whatever it is, left, right. I’m just reading the defence and just playing my game.

On having zero turnovers tonight… I thought I did a good job of taking what they gave me, making the right reads and not (being) overly anxious to make the pass if the bigs were staying with me. Just take my time when I got into the paint and was able to make the right plays.

KYLE LOWRY (20 points, 11 assists)

Do you feel like the offence is getting back into the groove? It’s going to take time, we made shots tonight and we played with good energy and I think that’s the biggest thing. I think Pascal said last game that we have to continue to play with energy, play good defence and our defence creates good offence.

On the play of Powell… He’s in a great stretch right now, he’s shooting the ball confidently, pushing in transition and I think he’s understanding how to play in transition a lot better now and what we need from him.

On how you and Serge Ibaka are playing right now… It takes time, I missed four weeks and Serge missed three weeks and I mean it takes time and when you are only eight games in and both get hurt and you miss some time early in the year, when you are kind of getting into your groove and you are feeling good early, then you get knocked out, it takes a little bit of time to get back going.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS QUOTES

JOHN BEILEIN (HEAD COACH)

On tonight’s game… The same story again we’ve had the last few games playing a really, really good team that has a great plan, has incredible shooters, length, quickness, got it all. I saw it firsthand now with (Pascal) Siakam, who last year certainly was a second fiddle to Kawhi (Leonard), and that was quite a performance. We’re just having trouble matching up with some of these type of players, and as a team we’ve got to find a way to do that. They are just a really good team, and were certainly a better team than us tonight.

On the transition defence… Some guys don’t have trouble, some do. It’s sort of an individual thing right now, and then what else happens is you can get back and then the words that aren’t spoken when you get back leads to confusion. We have some really good people on the team that aren’t necessarily the most talkative so they assume with each other, and they (opponents) get things. Again, if the other team is faster than you and longer than you, that’s really hard to stay in front of them too.

What were you seeing from your second unit? They just are playing well together right now. I think we had 30 assists overall. The first half was about our turnovers, led to fast break points and then the second half we stopped doing that. I think they had over 20 fast break points in the first half and the second half we didn’t turn it over as much. That’s been an issue. I don’t think the second team in the first half had a turnover; they went in and really played well. So we have a lot of things obviously we’re shoring up and it’s hard to do with a team like this.

COLLIN SEXTON (25 points, five rebounds, four assists)

What do you need to do to improve the transition defense? We have to get back into transition. We have to continue to work on that. A few of us can’t score and then run all the way back; it should be a collective effort. We have to talk more and communicate whenever the transition is happening.

Do you want to see more physicality from you and the group? Oh yeah, absolutely. We have to pretty much play harder and get more stops. We have to continue to grow, continue to get better and we just have to try to put a win together.

Can you take any positives from this game? There are some positives, but there are also negatives that we have to correct. There are a lot of things we have to get better at. So we’ll watch it tomorrow and look to get better.

Is communication missing on the defensive end? Absolutely, it’s communication. No matter what, we have to communicate, we have to get back. We have to point out which player we should go to because whenever we’re scoring two of us are maybe under the basket and everybody else is looking out so we have to talk more and communicate.

DARIUS GARLAND (20 points, five assists)

How is your game different over the last few games compared to the beginning of the season? It’s just being more aggressive. My teammates trust me more, coaches do too. They’re giving me the ball when I’m open. It’s a credit to them.

How has that been different for the offence that you’ve seen the last few games? The ball is moving, so everybody is getting a touch. Everybody is getting a couple of shots. We just didn’t knock them down tonight. The ball is moving and bodies are moving.

What is working with the second unit over the past few games? Like I said, the ball is moving. Everybody is touching the ball so everybody is pretty happy about that. When we get open shots, that’s all we can ask for.

What did you see on the defensive side tonight? Miscommunication, really. They’re a really fast-paced team. Siakam is coming out really fast. You’ve got to stop him, get in front and match up on him somewhat.

Siakam not satisfied after big game against Nets — Toronto Sun

It speaks to Pascal Siakam’s desire to be one of the NBA’s best players that he didn’t sound all that pleased with himself following one of his best all-around games of the season. “It’s on me to make sure that I keep my foot on the gas, and if you want to be great you […]

Siakam not satisfied after big game against Nets — Toronto Sun

Siakam and Raptors return to form as Powell, Gasol star in win over Nets — Toronto Sun

Pascal Siakam returned to form on Saturday night and so did his Toronto Raptors. Having lost four of their past five, including Wednesday’s drubbing at the hands of Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto was eager to reassert itself against Brooklyn and came out blazing, nailing 9-of-10 three-pointers early on the way to …

Siakam and Raptors return to form as Powell, Gasol star in win over Nets — Toronto Sun

10 things: Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell deliver wire-to-wire win over Nets — High Velocity Sport

10 things: Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell deliver wire-to-wire win over Nets Here are 10 takeaways from the Toronto Raptors’ 110-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets. One — Welcome: A stress-free win is exactly what the Raptors needed after dropping four of their last five games. Brooklyn jumped out to a 12-0 lead, but Toronto controlled […]

10 things: Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell deliver wire-to-wire win over Nets — High Velocity Sport