2019-2020 Toronto Raptors Thread: “Hail to the Champions! In Masai We Believe”

[hockeyfan1]

The Miami Heat put the brakes on the Raptors perfect home record with a 121-110 OT win.

Miami's Jimmy Butler did most of the damage in the OT.  The determined and resilient  Butler scored several key points to uplift his team and stay there in the overtime past a seemingly gassed out Raptors squad.  Toronto had been trailing for most of the game, took the lead at the end of the third quarter, and watched it become a comeback bid for themselves.

Norm Powell led Toronto with 23 points on the night, including some crucial three-pointers that helped the Raptors get closer in tying it up.  VanVleet with 19 pts., & 6 assists, Gasol with 14 pts., while Siakam, Lowry & Ibaka were the other contributors.
It was Lowry's first game back from injury.

VanVleet:
[tweet]1202047991378595840[/tweet]

Lowry:
[tweet]1202055205472395270[/tweet]

Powell:
[tweet]1202058501671010304[/tweet]

Highlights:
https://youtu.be/l_wwhb48lIQ

[hockeyfan1]

The Raptors prevented James Harden and Russell Westbrook from dominating the court (even so, Westbrook had a triple double) but certainly couldn't stop the rest of the Rockets, as Toronto loses it's second straight home game, a 119-109 defeat by Houston.

The Raptors defence was evident throughout the contest in limiting the Rockets behind the arc, but it wasn't good enough to hold off a victory by the opposition, as Toronto didn't excel at the basket.  Even though the Raptors are among the league's top five teams in three-point shooting, not tonight, and it cost them.

Siakam led the way with 24 points, VanVleet with 20, and Lowry with 19.

Highlights:
https://www.nba.com/raptors/video/teams/raptors/2019/12/06/2930674/1575602375173-nba-web-191205-gamehil-torvshoudigital-2930674

[hockeyfan1]

Kawhi received  his championship ring last night including a rousing ovation from the crowd.

He contributed 23 points in the Clippers 112-92 win over the Raptors.

[tweet]1204916863953711104[/tweet]

Game highlights:
https://www.nba.com/raptors/video/teams/raptors/2019/12/12/2942996/1576121379664-nba-web-191211-torvslac-gamehildigital-2942996

[Hobbes]

Kawhi received  his championship ring last night including a rousing ovation from the crowd.

I'm so glad that the fans in attendance gave him the much-deserved ovation. I was a bit afraid (thanks to reading some assorted articles in the media) that he might get booed and that would have been a travesty. It's disappointing that he decided to move on, but I completely understand and respect his reasons. Thank you Toronto Raptors fans for giving him a classy reception...if nothing else, it shows other potential free agents what a great team this can be to play for.

[Highlander]

Kawhi received  his championship ring last night including a rousing ovation from the crowd.

I'm so glad that the fans in attendance gave him the much-deserved ovation. I was a bit afraid (thanks to reading some assorted articles in the media) that he might get booed and that would have been a travesty. It's disappointing that he decided to move on, but I completely understand and respect his reasons. Thank you Toronto Raptors fans for giving him a classy reception...if nothing else, it shows other potential free agents what a great team this can be to play for.

If he had won with Phili or the Nets, no standing ovation, just bronze knuckles!  We are so nice in Canada.  We should all get nice pins for our lapels.

[hockeyfan1]

Raptors beat the Pistons 112-99 in Detroit.

Siakam, Ibaka, Lowry, & Anunoby led the way.  Ibaka played one of his best games this year in accruing 25 points & 13 rebounds.  Lowry had a triple -double (20 pts., 10 assists, 10 rebounds), while Anunoby with 19 pts., & Siakam with 26 were also the players with points in double digits.

Toronto is currently 19-8 in the w/l column good enough for fourth in the East.

Two Raptors left the game with injuries — Marc Gasol (pulled hamstring) and Norm Powell (shoulder).  Plus, add VanVleet who has yet to return (knee injury).  He has been out five games so far.

Game highlights:
https://www.nba.com/raptors/video/teams/raptors/2019/12/19/2957407/1576723455391-nba-web-191218-torvsdet-gamehildigital-2957407

[L K]

What just happened?   That was incredible

[hockeyfan1]

Yes, epic!  Biggest comeback in Raptor history...

[tweet]1208888318244593664[/tweet]

Game highlights:
https://www.nba.com/raptors/video/teams/raptors/2019/12/23/2965331/1577061396741-191222-postup-torvsdal-highlightsdigital

[hockeyfan1]

The Raptors sport a perfect 16-0 w/l record against teams that are .500 or below them in the standings.

But they are 5-10 against teams .500 or above.

[hockeyfan1]

Big win for the Raptors in Boston (avenging their Christmas Day loss to the Celtics in T.O.), with a convincing 113-97 victory at the TD Garden last night.

Lowry and Ibaka led the way with 30 & 20 points respectively.  But the night belonged to guys named Patrick McCaw, Terrence Davis, Chris Boucher, and Oshae Brissett.  McCaw in particular had a career high 18 points, and while Davis and especially Brissett didn't burn up the court, the youngsters provided ample energy and sharpshooting whenever it called for, providing VanVleet, Ibaka, Lowry, et al to do their good work.

Not a bad night for a team still beset by injuries (Gasol, Siakam, Powell, Thomas still out).

Lowry!
[tweet]1211097688189603840[/tweet]

McCaw:
[tweet]1211100175403507712[/tweet]

Brissett:
[tweet]1211102332097875968[/tweet]

Highlights:
https://www.nba.com/video/2019/12/28/0021900473-boston-celtics-vs-toronto-raptors-game-highlights

[hockeyfan1]

A few kind words about KLow:

[tweet]1212462600073732096[/tweet]

Story:
https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-cavs-tristan-thompson-calls-kyle-lowry-a-hall-of-famer/

In the Raptors 117-97 win last night, not only Lowry led the Raptors but kudos to Terrence a Davis with 19 points.
Lowry, Ibaka, Davis and Hollis-Jefferson (14)  were the players with double digits points.

Highlights:
https://www.nba.com/video/2019/12/31/0021900500-toronto-raptors-vs-cleveland-cavaliers-game-highlights

[hockeyfan1]

Some Raptor facts:

- team is 6-5 since mid December
- stingiest defence (after Milwaukee) in the league
- have lost more man games to injuries than any other team in the league

[tweet]1214691147609759744[/tweet]

Latest victory was a 112-110 comeback win in OT Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets in which Terrence Davis had a standout game.

Highlights:
https://www.nba.com/raptors/video/teams/raptors/2020/01/09/2996790/1578538982117-nba-web-200108-gamehil-torvschadigital-2996790

[hockeyfan1]

That was one comeback the Raptors can forget about...a 105-104 loss to the DeMar DeRizan-led San Antonio Spurs here at the Scotiabank Arena.

DeMar had 25 points with 20 of those coming in the second half alone, spurring the Spurs on the comeback trail.  With the Raptors on a fifteen point lead going into the final quarter, San Antonio's shooting remained consistent while the Raptors were a little shaky at the rim.  Nevertheless, there's no underestimating Toronto as the scoreboard indicates.

Serge Ibaka had 14 rebounds to go with his 21 pts., while Lowry contributed with 15 assists.

Crazy back and forth game, entertaining no less.

DeMar, by the way, received a warm ovation from the faithful during a mid-quarter video tribute.  An emotional return for him no doubt.

Highlights:

https://www.nba.com/raptors/video/teams/raptors/2020/01/13/3004889/1578880377366-200112-postup-torvssas-highlightsdigital

[hockeyfan1]

Congratulations Spicy!

[tweet]1220585774531387393[/tweet]

[L K]

Damn.  Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash.