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What do you think is more difficult: coming back in good spirits after a long winning streak comes to an end, or getting up to play hard against a team that is, from an organizational standpoint, obviously trying to lose?
That’s the quandary — if we can use that word — the Raptors find themselves in tonight as they prepare for a game against the Orlando Magic.
Toronto, as you well know, had to suffer the indignity of defeat this past weekend, an outcome that set their win counter back to zero. It happens, but also: it sucks. As with any good to great team though, they can’t dwell on it. At 52-18, the Raptors are the team to beat right now in the Eastern Conference, and the best thing for them is to just motor on as if nothing happened last Sunday. (They should definitely also try to not get into it with the referees so much; just a thought.)
Or, the Raps could up the difficulty and try to win without DeMar DeRozan and Fred VanVleet.
DeRozan & Van Vleet are out tonight.
— Eric Smith (@Eric__Smith) March 20, 2018
No word on who starts for DD
It sounds like both are sitting for precautionary measures — a hip/thigh contusion, and wrist pain, respectively — but it does make things, uh, interesting.
The Magic, meanwhile, are reeling. They’re 21-49 and second last in the conference, and definitely not hoping to improve that situation any time soon — at least not on the actual court, anyway. We know for certain Terrence Ross and Evan Fournier will not play tonight. There’s was a chance Aaron Gordon would also not dress. And sure, why not, Jonathon Simmons is a game-time decision apparently. We’ve got him listed in the starting lineup (for now). [Update: he’s out!]
Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon have played a total of 67 minutes together this season. Frank Vogel wants to experiment with that pairing to see how they fare together on both ends of the floor. Vogel envisions an Isaac/Gordon tandem as potentially elite defensively.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) March 20, 2018
In any case, it’ll be nice to see Bismack Biyombo throw himself around. There’s always that.
Here’s Zakaria Abdulle with this morning’s preview of Raptors-Magic.
Now, let’s watch.
Where to Watch
TSN4/5, 7:00 PM EST
Lineups:
Toronto [UPDATED] – Kyle Lowry, Malcolm Miller, OG Anunoby, Serge Ibaka, Jonas Valanciunas
Orlando [UPDATED] – D.J. Augustin, Aaron Afflalo, Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac, Nikola Vucevic
Injuries:
Toronto – Fred VanVleet (wrist – day-to-day), DeMar DeRozan (thigh contusion - day-to-day)
Orlando – Aaron Gordon (Concussion – questionable), Jonathon Simmons (Wrist - questionable), Terrence Ross (knee – out), Evan Fournier (knee – out),