Game Thread: Toronto Raptors vs. Houston Rockets scrimmage

We’re trying to maintain some perspective here in preparation for tonight’s Raptors vs. Rockets contest. For one, it’s a scrimmage, which means it will only be modestly competitive, as per every exhibition game we’ve ever seen. For two, the game is taking place during a global pandemic and being played in the U.S. state of Florida, an area that just so happens to have seen one of the more dramatic increases in coronavirus cases anywhere in the entire world. For three, that second issue really is a big one.

Nevertheless — I’ll be using that word a lot — the game is set for tonight in the so-called Disney Bubble. We’re ready to watch it, as are many of you. This whole NBA bubble idea may be a bad one overall, but it is happening and that’s that. (This is also something I’ll be saying a lot for the next few months, or until the extreme novelty of this situation wears off.)

Now, if you want to do even more reading on this fake game, here’s my Raptors-Rockets preview from this morning. Below are the updated game details, as best as I can provide from outside the bubble. The only thing left to do is to, as always, issue that final edict.

Let’s watch.

Where to Watch:

TSN at 7:30pm EST

Lineups:

Toronto — Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka

Houston — James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker, Robert Covington

Injuries:

Toronto — None reported.

Houston — Austin Rivers (out — family matter), Thabo Sefolosha, David Nwaba, William Howard (all three are not in Orlando).