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Projected Starters
Toronto
PG - Kyle Lowry
SG - Demar Derozan
SF - Demarre Carroll
PF - Luis Scola
C - Jonas Valanciunas
Los Angeles
PG - Jose Calderon
SG - Jordan Clarkson
SF - Luol Deng
PF - Julius Randle
C - Timofey Mozgov
Last Meeting:
Game #14: Los Angeles Lakers 93 Toronto Raptors 102
While the sellout crowd left no doubt it came to watch Kobe Bryant say goodbye to Canada, Terrence Ross took full advantage of his first start this season. The former NBA slam dunk champion proved a sparkplug with 22 points, including a team-high nine in the fourth quarter, as the Toronto Raptors put two tough home losses in the rearview mirror and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 102-93 on Monday night. Kyle Lowry scored 27 points for the Raptors, and Bismack Biyombo had a career-high 15 points with 13 rebounds. But it was Ross' strong, one-handed slam that finally gave Toronto the lead for good with 6:55 to go, and the Raptors quickly went on an 11-0 run to remove any doubt about the final outcome. Ross started in place of injured forward DeMarre Carroll. In what was almost certainly his last NBA appearance in Toronto, Bryant shot 8 of 16 for 21 points as the Raptors swept the season series from the Lakers for the first time. The crowd of 20,163, the largest ever at Air Canada Centre to watch the five-time NBA champion, certainly showed its appreciation for his 20 years in a Lakers uniform. "Wow! Wow!" Bryant said afterward. "It felt absolutely amazing. Sitting on the bench and they started chanting, `We want Kobe!' (I was like), give me 5 minutes."
Bryant, who announced his plans to retire after this season, averaged 27 points in 33 career games against the Raptors. He's scored 891 points against them, fifth all-time among opponents. And he has reached 40 points five times versus Toronto, more than any other player. Bryant was given a standing ovation when Lakers coach Byron Scott removed him for the final time with 24.6 seconds remaining.
Noteworthy:
- After losing back-to-back games to fall to an 8-6 record, the Toronto Raptors have bounced back to win four straight games.
- Raptors are now second in the Eastern Conference with a 12-6 record.
- Toronto goes for its fifth consecutive victory, as they host an LA Lakers (10-10) team that have lost three of their last five games.
- The Raptors recently defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 120-105, while the Lakers were able to take a 96-90 road victory over the Chicago Bulls.
- The Toronto Raptors will be playing in the first game of a “two games in two nights schedule”.
- LA Lakers will have two days off since their win in Chicago.
- Toronto will be the third stop in a four-game road trip for the Lakers. This will be the first of two meetings for both teams this 2016-17 season.
- In their victory over the Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors All-Stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined for 53 points.
- Lowry notched 29 points and dished out eight assists, while DeRozan shot 6-for-9 from the field and missed just one of his eleven free throw attempts.
- DeRozan’s six field goals was also able to put him third overall for field goals made in franchise history. He is now just 12 baskets away from passing Vince Carter’s (1998-2005) 3,451 field goals made.
- The Toronto Raptors were able to offset a season-high 20 turnovers with a season-high 16 three pointers made.
- For the season, the Toronto Raptors are 5th in the league in scoring with 109.7 ppg. They are 15th in points allowed at 104.3 points, which gives them a +5.4 point differential.
- The Toronto Raptors will have their complete roster in their upcoming game against the Lakers.
- By comparison, the LA Lakers are 8th in scoring at 106.6 ppg, but 27th in points allowed at 109.6 points. This puts the Lakers 24th overall in point differential at -3.0 points.
- 10-year veteran Nick Young will not be available against the Toronto Raptors. Young has been diagnosed with a strained right calf muscle, which will put him out of action for two to four weeks.
- D’Angelo Russell is still out after receiving a platelet rich injection in his knee.
- This is the first time Los Angeles Lakers are visiting Toronto since Kobe Bryant's retirement.
Go RAPS!
