Game Thread: Toronto Raptors vs. Sacramento Kings

The Raptors got their first huge win — in terms of deficit — this season against the Sacramento Kings. It was also just Toronto’s second win of the year; but it gave cause for optimism because it looked like the Raptors were finally rounding into form after their 1-7 start. Now they see the Kings again in this early season, but yet they still haven’t found their way back to .500. It’s not not cause for concern, if that makes sense.

You know what else is not not — or just is — cause for concern? The fact that both OG Anunuoby and Norman Powell will miss tonight’s game. Yes, after ending up with a “questionable” designation for most of the off day, Anunoby has been downgraded to out tonight in advance of tip-off. Meanwhile, catching us all by surprise, Powell is dealing with a right quadriceps contusion that has him off for the night. This comes at a particularly rough time for the Raptors for a few reasons. One, they just got Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry back into the lineup; two, the rest of the squad has been playing better as of late but has just been in search of the team’s top level talent; and three, both Norm and OG had really been playing great as of late.

So things tonight are not quite the same as they were when the Raptors met the Kings earlier this season. Both teams are relatively evenly matched, record-wise, but one is on a two-game winning streak and mostly healthy while the other is on a two-game losing streak and apparently falling apart. Who knows what we’ll see tonight — or who will step up for the Raptors.

Our guy JD got into it all this morning with his Raptors-Kings preview. Below is the updated lineup info. Now, let’s watch.

Where to Watch

Sportsnet at 7:30pm EST

Lineups

Toronto [Updated] — Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Terence Davis, Pascal Siakam, Aron Baynes

Sacramento — De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley III, Richaun Holmes

Injuries

Toronto — OG Anunoby (calf - out), Norman Powell, (quad - out), Patrick McCaw (knee - out)

Sacramento — Nemanja Bjelica, (back - doubtful), Jahmi’us Ramsey (groin - out), DaQuan Jeffries (ankle - out)