Raptors vs. Cavaliers Game Thread: Pre-game updates, TV info, and more

The Raptors are entering a trying stretch of schedule, one in which they are bombarded with non-stop playoff teams for three weeks straight. To this point they’ve acquitted themselves fairly well, dispatching the Grizzlies and Warriors in consecutive games.

Tonight’s game should, hopefully, give them a brief reprieve before getting back to business on Monday against the Nuggets. Tonight, they are playing the Cavs, who suck. Further adding to the amount that they suck, the Cavs are on the second night of a back-to-back, having just flown in from Boston to play in tonight’s contest. Confirming the idea that the Cavs suck, last night’s game in Boston ended with the Cavs being blown out by 33 points.

The Raptors will capitalize on the Cavs sucking by giving Kyle Lowry, who has played in every game of the year so far, the night off. The organizational line is that Lowry has a sore back. He’s been carrying the entire franchise on his back for six years now, so I’d say it’s rather understandable. Fred VanVleet will start in Lowry’s place.

With Kevin Love out, the Cavs are leaning on a duo of Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton to create shots. Graded by the standards of a rookie, Sexton has been fine. He’s taking a lot of shots and making an un-embarrassing portion of them. He tries hard. Graded by the standards of an NBA player, Sexton has been terrible. He has no clue how run an offense and no clue how to defend. Last night he did this:

Call it a trap game, call it whatever you want. It should be impossible for the Raptors to lose to this team. Let’s watch anyways.

Where to Watch:

TSN, 8pm EST

Lineups:

Toronto - Fred VanVleet, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka

Cleveland - Collin Sexton, Rodney Hood, Cedi Osman, Larry Nance Jr., Tristan Thompson

Injuries:

Toronto — Norman Powell (out - shoulder)

Cleveland — Kevin Love (foot - Out), J.R. Smith (not with team), Sam Dekker (ankle - out), George Hill (shoulder - questionable), David Nwaba (knee - questionable)