Restart Game #1: Toronto Raptors vs Los Angeles Lakers - August 1, 2020 - 8:30pm ET

[MixxAOR]

PROBABLE STARTING LINE UPS

YOUR TORONTO RAPTORS







VS

LOS ANGELES LAKERS







GAME NOTES

• The Toronto Raptors restart the 2019-20 season Saturday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Raptors will play eight “seeding games,” as selected from its remaining regular-season matchups, before the start of the postseason. In the last matchup, Toronto snapped the Lakers' seven-game winning streak with a 113-104 victory Nov. 10 in Los Angeles. Pascal Siakam had 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet finished with 23 points and 10 assists in the win.

• Toronto’s last regular season game was Monday, Mar. 9 at Utah when the team completed a five-game Western Conference road trip. The Raptors returned home after the game and had the next day off. Players and travel staff were tested for COVID-19 Wednesday night (Mar. 11) after the Jazz’s game at Oklahoma City was cancelled and the season was suspended. Due to travel restrictions in Canada, the team reconvened on June 22 in Fort Myers, Florida, to prepare for a resumption to the 2019-20 season. Toronto trained at Florida Gulf Coast University before arriving in Orlando.

• The Raptors have won 10 straight games vs. the LA Lakers. It’s Toronto’s second longest current winning streak against one opponent (the Raptors have won 12 in a row vs. Chicago), as well as the Lakers’ longest current losing streak versus any team. The Lakers’ last win against Toronto was a 129–122 overtime victory Nov. 30, 2014 at Staples Center.

• Pascal Siakam is averaging career highs of 23.6 points and 7.5 rebounds through 53 games played this season. Only two players in Raptors history have finished a season averaging at least 23.0 points and 7.0 rebounds: Chris Bosh in 2009–10 (24.0, 10.8) and Kawhi Leonard in 2018–19 (26.6, 7.3).

• The Raptors have held their opponent to fewer than 100 points in 19 games this season - most in the NBA. Toronto is 15-4 in those contests. The Raptors currently lead the NBA in points allowed per game (106.5) and opponent three-point percentage (.337), and rank second in opponent field goal percentage (.429).

• Toronto needs four victories in its final eight games to reach 50 wins for the fifth straight season. The Raptors never won 50 games in their first 20 NBA seasons. Since the start of the 2015-16 season, Toronto’s .689 (270W-122L) winning percentage during the regular season is tops in the NBA.

• Toronto currently has a different statistical leader in total points (Pascal Siakam - 1,253), rebounds (Serge Ibaka - 414), assists (Kyle Lowry - 399), steals (Fred VanVleet - 91) and blocks (Chris Boucher - 53).

• The Raptors lead Boston by 3.0 games for second in the Eastern Conference. Toronto is looking to capture its sixth Atlantic Division title in the last seven seasons.

• Lakers guard Danny Green helped Toronto win the 2019 NBA Championship. Green averaged 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 27.7 minutes in 80 games (all starts) with the Raptors last season. Green’s 198 three-point field goals were third most in a single-season in franchise history. In the postseason, Green started all 24 games for Toronto, posting averages 6.9 points and 3.6 rebounds.

[007]

It’s go time! All eyes are going to be on this game, chance to make a big statement

[Kagemusha]

We got this.

[bertarapsfan]

Lets go!!! Love me some slow jazz!!
After months of fiending for ball and our beloved basketball forum becoming a discussion on death rates and vaccines we back babay!

Now we can come together in something we can finally all agree on.
FUCK THE RONA!! Back to back babayyyyy!

[Gonzz]

Game day! Let’s go!

[G__Deane]

Game Day for Real!

[GLF]

Yes!!!! Its game day boys!!!

[golden]

[Jclaw]

While the eyes should be on the prize of second seed (thanks Bucks), it would be a nice benefit to reach the 2nd or 3rd seed overall.Were just 2 games up on the Clippers and there a non zero chance that both the Bucks (1st) and Lakers (2nd) might not be around at finals time

[golden]

I would not be too surprised if the Raps blow the Lakers out today. Media will spin it like the Lakers didn't take the Raps as seriously as the Clippers and beating Lebron was our Super Bowl. Lebron will praise the Raps for their "championship DNA" and use the loss as a way to roast his own teammates who need to "get on his level" of to understand what it takes to win a championship.

[planetmars]

I mentioned this in another thread.. but it seems the refs are making it a mission to call everything. Watched a few games, and there have been A LOT of foul calls. Really no flow in most games because of it.

So just be prepared for a chippy game tonight. Guys like OG, Serge, Kyle and Siakam are all prone to fouling unnecessarily. We have pretty good depth but wouldn't be surprised if there were some questionable calls in the game, and everyone is screaming conspiracy takes after the game is over.

[golden]

I mentioned this in another thread.. but it seems the refs are making it a mission to call everything. Watched a few games, and there have been A LOT of foul calls. Really no flow in most games because of it.

So just be prepared for a chippy game tonight. Guys like OG, Serge, Kyle and Siakam are all prone to fouling unnecessarily. We have pretty good depth but wouldn't be surprised if there were some questionable calls in the game, and everyone is screaming conspiracy takes after the game is over.

With no fans around, the zebras are feeling a bit too comfortable. Raps are very aggressive and 'handsy' on defense, so a tighter whistle definitely hurts us.

[slaw]

With no fans around, the zebras are feeling a bit too comfortable. Raps are very aggressive and 'handsy' on defense, so a tighter whistle definitely hurts us.

The crowd is such a big part of NBA games much more so than any other major sport.

Also, wonder how much with the refs is just that every game is in the spot light so the bad officiating is just more noticeable. But inclined to agree with planetmars and you that the whistle has been tight.

[Jclaw]

I mentioned this in another thread.. but it seems the refs are making it a mission to call everything. Watched a few games, and there have been A LOT of foul calls. Really no flow in most games because of it.

So just be prepared for a chippy game tonight. Guys like OG, Serge, Kyle and Siakam are all prone to fouling unnecessarily. We have pretty good depth but wouldn't be surprised if there were some questionable calls in the game, and everyone is screaming conspiracy takes after the game is over.

Yeah...Kawhi got two fouls in the first q the other night and had to sit. What do they think he is? Still a Raptor?

[Maury]

Hoping Marc starts.