Raptors-Thunder: Who Will Stop Russell Westbrook?

Where to watch: 7:00 p.m., TSN2

The Raptors have gone 2-7 since the All-Star Break. Even with Kyle Lowry's return on Friday, they couldn't get back on track with a road loss to the Hornets in Charlotte. There are encouraging signs, if you reach for them. DeMar DeRozan has been playing better, the team put together an encouraging effort against Cleveland (but failed to build on it in Charlotte, a place where they seem to never be able to win), and well, that's about it. Let's just say some segments of the fanbase is going full panic mode right now:

#WETHENORTH RT @william_lou: What are we even doing here? pic.twitter.com/OOZjq2zvfb

— alex (@steven_lebron) March 8, 2015

The Raptors did beat OKC at home back in November, but that was when the Thunder were without Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Durant will be out for tonight's game, but Westbrook is available, and has been destroying the rest of the competition since the start of February.

This will not be an easy game for Toronto, and with the Spurs after this, we might have to endure a few more losses before things get better. Setting the bar really low here, but I would be encouraged to just see a strong effort on both ends of the floor from the Raptors, regardless of the final result.

Here's another stat to consider: since starting 13-2, Toronto has gone 25-22. If you exclude their matchups against the Atlantic Division during that time period (in which they went 8-2 in their division), they're 17-20.

Discuss.