Category: Raptors

PACERS AT RAPTORS PREGAME NOTES: The Raptors have tied the franchise record with 11 straight victories (Jan. 15 – Feb. 2). It’s the third time in team history Toronto has won 11 consecutive games (Feb. 26 – March 16, 2018 and Jan. 6-30, 2016). Over the past 11 games, the Raptors are averaging 120.7 points and shooting .504 (491-975) from the field, including .397 (159-401) from three point range. Toronto also has a +57 (152-to-209) turnover differential during this stretch and leads the NBA in points per game off turnovers (23.9).

Injury Report: 02/05/20 01:30 PM

Indiana Pacers Bowen II, Brian Out G League – Two-Way
Johnson, Alize Out G League – On Assignment
Leaf, TJ Questionable Injury/Illness – Not Available; Illness
Mitrou-Long, Naz Out G League – Two-Way
Warren, T.J. Out Injury/Illness – Not Available; Concussion
Toronto Raptors Brissett, Oshae Out G League – Two-Way
Gasol, Marc Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Tightness
Hernandez, Dewan Out Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprain
Hollis-Jefferson, Rondae Questionable Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprain
Powell, Norman Out Injury/Illness – Left Finger; Fourth – fracture; metacarpal

RAPTORS NOTES

•The Toronto Raptors welcome the Indiana Pacers to Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night. This is the second of four meetings between the two teams. In the first matchup in December, the Pacers won 120115 in overtime. Kyle Lowry led all scorers with 30 points in the game. Toronto has won 11 straight games at home vs. Indiana. The Raptors and Pacers will face each other three times in the month of February.

• The Raptors have tied the franchise record with 11 straight victories (Jan. 15 – Feb. 2). It’s the third time in team history Toronto has won 11 consecutive games (Feb. 26 – Mar. 16, 2018 and Jan. 6-30, 2016). Over the last 11 games, the Raptors are averaging 120.7 points and shooting .504 (491-975) from the field, including .397 (159-401) from three point range. Toronto also has a +57 (152-to-209) turnover differential during this stretch and leads the NBA in points per game off turnovers (23.9).

• Terence Davis II scored a career-high 31 points in 28 minutes off the bench Sunday afternoon vs. Chicago. He became just the sixth Raptors rookie, and first as a reserve, to score 30+ points in a game (Last: Norman Powell – Apr. 13, 2016 at Brooklyn). Davis is the only Raptor to appear in all 50 games this season and currently ranks second among rookies with a .417 (68-163) three-point shooting percentage. • The Raptors bench scored 66 points, including 32 in the fourth quarter, in Sunday’s victory over Chicago. During the team’s 11-game winning streak, Toronto’s reserves rank sixth in the NBA averaging 44.5 points, while shooting an NBA-best .517 (186-for-360) from the floor. • Toronto held Chicago to a .389 (35-for-90) shooting from the field Sunday afternoon. It was the 15th time this season the Raptors have held an opponent below 40 per cent shooting from the floor, posting a 13-2 record in those games. Toronto ranks second in the NBA this season in opponent field goal percentage (.427), behind only Milwaukee (.411).

• Serge Ibaka has scored in double figures in seven straight games (Jan. 22 – Feb. 2), shooting at least 50 per cent from the floor in all seven contests. He is averaging 18.4 points during this stretch.

• Kyle Lowry needs 40 points to tie Vince Carter (9,420) for third place on the Raptors’ all-time scoring list. DeMar DeRozan (13,296) is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, followed by Chris Bosh (10,275).

• Nick Nurse and his staff will coach Team Giannis at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago. Nurse will become just the third active head coach to coach in the All-Star Game in their first or second year as an NBA head coach, joining Steve Kerr (first year) and Mike Budenholzer (second year) – both in 2015.

• Kyle Lowry has been named a reserve for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. Lowry will participate in his sixth All-Star Game (2015-20), the most in franchise history. He is the first player in NBA history to be selected to at least six All-Star teams after not being picked in any of his first eight seasons. Lowry will join forward Pascal Siakam in Chicago, who was voted a starter. Siakam’s selection extends a streak of six consecutive years that a Raptor has been voted into the starting five – Lowry (2015, 2016), DeMar DeRozan (2017, 2018) and Kawhi Leonard (2019). It also marks the fifth straight year (2016-20) two players will represent Toronto in the All-Star Game.


PROBABLE STARTERS

G – OG ANUNOBY #3

MIN: 29.0 REB: 5.4 AST: 1.6 STL: 1.1 TO: 1.2 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 10.3

• Contributed four points, seven rebounds and one steal in 21 minutes of action Feb. 2 vs. Chicago. • Toronto is 19-4 this season when Anunoby scores 10 or more points. • Averaging a career-high 10.3 points and shooting a career-best .490 from the field this season.

F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43

MIN: 34.8 REB: 7.6 AST: 3.4 STL: 1.0 TO: 2.5 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 23.7

• Recorded 17 points, a game-high nine rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes Feb. 2 vs. Chicago. • Ranks 15th in the NBA in scoring (23.7) and 12th in +/- rating (+284). • Has scored 30+ points 12 times; had five 30-point performances in 80 games played last season.

C – SERGE IBAKA #9

MIN: 26.4 REB: 8.0 AST: 1.3 STL: 0.6 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 15.5

• Totaled 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks in 25 minutes Feb. 2 vs. Chicago. • Averaging 18.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 31.2 minutes in 17 games as a starter this season. • Is the only player in NBA history with 500+ three-point field goals and 1,500+ blocks.

G – KYLE LOWRY #7

MIN: 36.6 REB: 4.5 AST: 7.3 STL: 1.2 TO: 2.8 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 19.4

• Finished with 14 points, six assists and four rebounds in 30 minutes Feb. 2 vs. Chicago • Ranks 10th in the NBA in assists per game (7.3); has dished out 10+ assists seven times. • Became the franchise’s all-time leader in assists Jan. 28 vs. Atlanta, passing Jose Calderon (3,770).

G – FRED VANVLEET #23

MIN: 35.9 REB: 3.9 AST: 7.0 STL: 1.9 TO: 2.3 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 17.8

• Tallied 12 points, a game-high eight assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes Feb. 2 vs. Chicago. • Ranks fourth in the NBA in steals per game (1.93); has registered multiple steals in 19 games. • Has totaled 29 assists, compared to just six turnovers, over the last three games (Jan. 30 – Feb. 2).



INJURY REPORT Marc Gasol (Left hamstring; tightness) – TBD Dewan Hernandez (Right ankle; sprain) – TBD Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Right ankle sprain) – TBD Norman Powell (Left hand; fourth metacarpal – fracture) – Out Malcolm Miller (Neck; strain) – TBD

NEXT GAME DETAILS Opponent: Indiana Pacers Date: Wednesday, February 5 Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. (ET) Venue: Scotiabank Arena Television: TSN Radio: TSN 1050 Toronto

SERIES RECAP VS. INDIANA

OVERALL HOME ROAD

2019-20 0-1 0-0 0-1

ALL-TIME 40-49 27-18 13-31

STREAKS Lost 2 Won 11 Lost 2

LAST WIN: January 6, 2019 (121-105)

LAST HOME WIN: January 6, 2019 (121-105)

LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +25, March 19, 2017

LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -29, April 8, 2009

LAST TIME VS. INDIANA

GAME 30 – DECEMBER 23, 2019 INDIANA 120, TORONTO 115 (OT)

INDIANAPOLIS — T.J. Warren and Myles Turner scored 24 points apiece, Aaron Holiday sank two 3-pointers late and the host Indiana Pacers outlasted the Toronto Raptors 120-115 in overtime on Monday night … Holiday hit a 3-pointer to give the Pacers a 116-113 lead with 2:05 remaining in overtime … Then he drained another for a 119-115 advantage with 54 seconds remaining … Holiday finished with 19 points, including 5 of 10 on 3-pointers … Raptors guard Kyle Lowry led all scorers with 30 points. Serge Ibaka added 23 and Fred VanVleet 21 … Both teams missed potential game-winning shots in the final minute of regulation as Holiday’s layup was too long off the glass before Lowry’s last-second 3-pointer bounced off the front of the rim … The Pacers were hot from the outset in hitting 8of-15 3-pointers to take a 44-29 lead midway through the second quarter … The Raptors made only one in their first 11 attempts … Turner, who averages 11.5 points, had 15 at halftime on 6-of-6 shooting … The Pacers led 54-44 … The Raptors rallied in the third quarter and a Lowry layup just before the buzzer gave the visitors a 79-78 lead entering the final quarter.

1 2 3 4 OT TOT

TORONTO 19 25 35 28 8 115

INDIANA 30 24 24 29 13 120

PACERS PROBABLE STARTERS

Pos. No. Player Ht. wt. Notes
Forward 26 Jeremy Lamb 6-5 185
2019-20 Averages: 12.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.2 spg, .456 FG%, .324 3FG%, .857 FT% Last Game: 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist, one steal Set a new season high with 30 points as he shot 9-for-13 from the field, tied his career high with five 3-pointers on five attempts, and made all seven free throw attempts against Denver, 1/2…Has scored in double figures in all but seven of his appearances this season with 20 or more five times.
Forward 11 Domantas Sabonis 6-11 250
2019-20 Averages: 18.3 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, .540 FG%, .229 3FG%, .727 FT% Last Game: 26 points (11-18 FG, 4-4 FT), 12 rebounds, nine assists, two steals Currently ranks sixth in the NBA in rebounding average and third with 38 double-doubles on the season, passing his career high set last season (30)…Recorded his 19th double-double of the season with 18 points and a career-high 22 rebounds against the Clippers, 12/9..His 22 rebounds was the most by any Pacers player since 1993…Recorded his first two NBA triple-doubles this season, becoming the first Pacers player since 2013-14 to record multiple triple-doubles in one season.
Center 33 Myles Turner 6-11 255
2019-20 Averages: 12.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.9 bpg, .452 FG%, .347 3FG%, .748 FT% Last Game: 11 points (4-8 FG, 1-4 3FG, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, one steal, three blocks Ranks fifth in the NBA this season in blocks (1.9 per game)…Posted his fourth double-double of the year and set season highs with 27 points and 14 rebounds in the road win at Chicago, 1/10…Led the NBA and tied for third in Pacers franchise history with 199 blocked shots in 2018-19…Also became the first Pacers player since Jermaine O’Neal in 2000-01 to lead the NBA in blocks.
Guard 7 Malcolm Brogdon 6-5 230
2019-20 Averages: 16.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 7.4 apg, .437 FG%, .327 3FG%, .904 FT% Last Game: 14 points (6-17 FG, 2-7 3FG), six rebounds, three assists, one block Ranks sixth in the NBA in free throw percentage this season (.904..Ranks eighth in the NBA in assists, and is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, asissts and steals…Has posted eight double-doubles on the season, including four straight to begin the regular season. He had only recorded four double-doubles over his first three NBA seasons entering this year.
Guard 3 Aaron Holiday 6-1 185
2019-20 Averages: 10.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, .422 FG%, .424 3FG%, .870 FT% Last Game: Seven points (3-9 FG, 1-3 3FG), two rebounds, four assists, one steal Ranks 15th in the NBA in 3-point percentage while shooting 42.4 percent from long distance this season…Has made 19 starts this season and has averaged 13.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 steal per game over that span…Set a new career high with 25 points against New Orleans, 12/28.
2019-20

INDIANA PACERS (31-19) at TORONTO RAPTORS (36-14) Game #51 | Road Game #26 Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | 7:30 P.M. (ET) Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, ON
Injury Report T.J. Warren ………………Concussion Protocol……….Out

RAPTORS 129-BULLS 102 POSTGAME NOTES: Terence Davis scored a career-high 31 points (12-15 FG, 6-7 3PT, 1-2 FT) in 28 minutes off the bench … Davis is the sixth Raptors rookie to score 30+ points in a game (Last: Norman Powell – April 13, 2016 at Brooklyn) and first to accomplish this feat as a reserve. The Raptors have matched their franchise-best 11-game winning streak.

FINAL SCORE: TORONTO RAPTORS 129, CHICAGO BULLS 102

DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 2020 ATTENDANCE: 19,800 (Sellout).

FINAL SCORE RECORD HIGH POINTS HIGH REBOUNDS HIGH ASSISTS Chicago 102 19-33 Young – 21 Young/LaVine – 7 LaVine – 7 Toronto 129 36-14 Davis – 31 Siakam – 9 VanVleet – 8

KEY RUN

Leading 95-85 after three quarters, Toronto opened the fourth on a 16-5 run to push the lead to 21 points with eight minutes remaining … Reserves Terence Davis and Patrick McCaw combined for 12 of the Raptors’ 16 points during the run … Fred VanVleet was the only Toronto starter to play in the fourth quarter.

KEY STAT

The Raptors shot 56 per cent (47-for-84) from the field, including .706 (12-for-17) in the fourth quarter … Toronto improved to a perfect 13-0 this season when they shoot .500 or better from the floor.

RAPTORS NOTES:

• With the win, Toronto improves to 36-14 this season and 18-7 at home … The Raptors swept the season-series with Chicago for the third straight year and have now won 12 in a row vs. Chicago … Toronto’s next game is Wednesday night when they host Indiana.

• The Raptors have tied their longest winning streak in franchise history with 11 straight victories (Jan 15 – Feb. 2) … Toronto also won 11 consecutive games Feb. 26 – Mar. 16, 2018 and Jan. 6-30, 2016.

• Toronto improved to 7–6 in games they have played on Super Bowl Sunday … The Raptors have won on the day of the Super Bowl each of the past four years. • The Raptors bench scored 66 points, including 32 points in the fourth quarter. • After committing seven turnovers in the first quarter, the Raptors had eight the rest of the way.

• Toronto outscored the Bulls 56-40 in the paint and 20-13 on the fast-break.

• Terence Davis scored a career-high 31 points (12-15 FG, 6-7 3PT, 1-2 FT) in 28 minutes off the bench … Davis became the sixth Raptors rookie to score 30+ points in a game (Last: Norman Powell – Apr. 13, 2016 at Brooklyn) and first to accomplish this feat as a reserve.

• The Raptors had seven players score double figures – Davis (31), Pascal Siakam (17), Serge Ibaka (16), Chris Boucher (15), Kyle Lowry (14), Fred VanVleet (12) and Patrick McCaw (10).

BULLS NOTES:

• With the loss, Chicago falls to 19-33 on the season and 8-18 on the road … The Bulls have dropped three in a row (Jan. 29 – Feb. 2) – all on the road … Chicago’s next game is Thursday night when they return home to face New Orleans.

• Chicago shot .389 (35-for-90) from the field … The Bulls were held below 40 per cent shooting from the field in all three games vs. the Raptors this season. • Thaddeus Young scored a season-high 21 points in 30 minutes of action before fouling out.

• The Bulls had five players score in double digits – Young (21), Zach LaVine (18), Chandler Hutchison (17), Coby White (12) and Ryan Arcidiacono (12) … LaVine has led Chicago in assists in each of the last three games, averaging 8.0 assists … Arcidiacono’s 12 points tied a season high

RAPTORS’ PLUCKY EFFORT COMES UP SHORT AGAINST CLIPPERS

The Raptors lost OG Anunoby early in the game when he was poked in the eye inadvertently by Kawhi Leonard. Anunoby left the game bleeding and did not return. Raptors coach Nick Nurse was hit with a technical foul when he argued for a foul call.

From the Los Angeles Daily News

-By MIRJAM SWANSON | mswanson@scng.com | Southern California News Group
PUBLISHED: November 11, 2019 at 10:37 pm | UPDATED: November 11, 2019 at 11:30 pm
https://www.dailynews.com/2019/11/11/kawhi-leonard-clippers-beat-raptors-but-lose-landry-shamet-to-injury/

LOS ANGELES — In a knock-down, drag-out defensive test of mettle, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers took a proud champion’s best shot and withstood it, defeating the Toronto Raptors 98-88 on Monday.

Leonard stepped on the court with Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet and crew for the first time since June 13, when they won an NBA title together.

This time, of course, Leonard was working against the guys with Raptors across their chest, having departed in free agency, ending months of speculation by choosing to come home to Southern California and play for the Clippers rather than run it back with Toronto.

Leonard told the Staples Center crowd, split in its allegiances Monday, that it meant something to face his former teammates: “Definitely. Got to know the guys inside and out, on and off the court. We had fun, it was fun to compete against them tonight.”

His presence in L.A. made the Clippers immediate favorites among oddsmakers and league general managers – but Monday it was the Raptors who played, fittingly, like champions the past two days, splitting a tough Staples Center back to back despite two of their starters being sidelined by injury.

On Sunday, Toronto (7-3) stormed past the Lakers 113-104, disrupting their seven-game winning streak and shutting out former Raptor Danny Green.

On Monday, the Raptors took it to Leonard and his new company, playing swarming, relentless defense and making L.A. work for the win before an enthusiastic crowd split in its allegiances.

Toronto trailed by only four points on Chris Boucher’s putback with 1:42 left, but then Leonard’s ninth assist set up a flying Montrezl Harrell dunk followed by a pair of Leonard makes at the line with 43 seconds to go effectively closed the door.

“They’re a confident team,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said before the game. “I call it the championship rub. You win the title, you can lose five guys … and guys believe they can win because they have won. They know how to win together, so you see them playing that way as a group, you can’t break that.”

The victory was costly for the Clippers (7-3), who lost starting shooting guard Landry Shamet in the third quarter, when the team said he sprained his left ankle while defending Fred VanVleet, his former college teammate, on a drive to the hoop. Shamet, who did not put any weight on his left foot while he was helped to the locker room, left the locker room on crutches after the game and will undergo an MRI in the morning.

Toronto led 78-73 entering the fourth quarter, when Leonard had been hot this season, averaging a league-best 13.5 points per game entering Monday.