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After an impressive road win at Dallas last night, the Raptors face a tough task on the second night of a back-to-back in Oklahoma City, against a healthy Thunder team which means Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and, and... Dion Waiters?
The Raptors are off to their first 4-0 start in franchise history, and even more impressive than the record is how well they've played in the fourth quarter and on the defensive end. This will be a challenge, but hey, let's do this.
Things to Look For:
DeMarre Carroll vs. Kevin Durant
One of my favorite subplots of this young season is watching Carroll go up against some of the premiere wing players in the league. This will, of course, be the toughest challenge so far. The Raptors are holding opponents to 38.6 percent shooting so far this season, so clearly, they're doing some things right. Durant played just 27 games last season but through four games, he's looking like his old self, averaging 29.8 points per game and shooting over 40 percent from three. He's also averaging a very healthy 37.8 minutes per game. We'll see if Carroll can contain Durant and get himself going on the offensive end and stay out of early foul trouble. It could be the key to the Raptors pulling out an upset against one of the elite teams in the West.
Luis Scola, Corner Sniper?
During preseason, Scola was on the floor pregame working on his three-point shooter and was a marksman from the corner. Does practice actually make perfect? He hit a key corner three late in the fourth quarter against the Mavericks, and could have an entire elaborate celebration for corner threes by January. Scola has made 11 threes in his NBA career, but if he adds this part of the game to his arsenal, the Raptors will have another three-point shooting forward at their disposal in late game situations.
Russell Westbrook
Where to watch: TSN, 8 pm est