The Toronto Raptors are back home after a three-game road trip, hosting the Sacramento Kings at 6 p.m. on Sportsnet One.
The Raptors enter as 5.5-point favorites despite the Kings being on a bit of a roll of late. The 10-16 Kings won three straight games before dropping a tight decision to the Timberwolves on Friday, and they’ll come in fairly well rested. They’ll also be shorthanded, however, as Eric Moreland (foot) and Willie Cauley-Stein (finger) remain sidelined.
With those two out and Rajon Rondo good to go after injuring his eye Friday, their lineup will look something like this:
PG: Rondo, Darren Collison, Seth Curry
SG: Ben McLemore, Marco Belinelli, James Anderson
SF: Rudy Gay, Omri Casspi, Caron Butler
PF: DeMarcus Cousins, Quincy Acy, Duje Dukan
C: Kosta Koufos
Down to a single natural center, look for plenty of Cousins at the five. Gay and Casspi can both play an effective stretch-four, and the Kings are at their best getting more athletic like that – they’ve been starting Cousins at the pivot with both Gay and Casspi on the floor, a fun unit that’s outscored opponents by 2.9 points per-100 possessions (PPC). That same group with Koufos as the lone big has also been highly effective, outscoring opponents by 6.8 PPC.
The Kings will also play Rondo and Collison together, but those lineups have been crushed by 12.8 PPC in 279 minutes – despite his robust numbers, the Kings have actually been 6.3 PPC worse with Rondo on the floor. He’s dangerous and averages 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and a league-high 11.1 assists, but for the fourth season in a row his team has been better when he hits the pine.
Really, though, whatever the lineup, Cousins is the focus. He’s an absolute beast and a matchup impossibility. God speed, Bismack Biyombo.
You can read Shyam’s full game preview here.
Carroll and Valanciunas updates
DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas remain sidelined for the Raptors but could be getting close to returns. Both are set to see a doctor this week and hope to be cleared for a return to contact action, according to Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun. Valanciunas has been able to do cardio because his injury is to his hand, while Carroll’s been mostly immobile.
Carroll looked good on his three-pointers and free throws and is moving well. Seeing doctor tomorrow. Still needs to ramp up cardio.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) December 20, 2015
The reported timeline for Valanciunas was originally early-January, so this seems more or less on schedule, if not a bit ahead. Sunday will be the 15th game he’s missed, with the original projection being 20 or 21, and he’s still wearing a small brace on the injured hand. Carroll, meanwhile, never had a timeline and is missing his eighth consecutive outing. The Raptors really need to take it cautious with their wing stopper, as his health come playoff time is far more important than getting him back a game or two earlier.
Who starts?
There has been no official word but it stands to reason that James Johnson will start at small forward again Sunday. He replaced Terrence Ross on Friday for the purposes of checking Dwyane Wade, and the logic should hold against Rudy Gay. Plus, Johnson and Ross both turned in great games, so Casey may not want to tinker.
Everyone recalled
Anthony Bennett was assigned to the D-League for Sunday’s afternoon game. He’s since been recalled, and you can read about his performance here. Delon Wright was recalled to make room for Bennett and will also be available on the Raptors’ bench for the night game, as will Norman Powell and Bruno Caboclo.
I wouldn’t expect much from Powell, who got word late Friday of his assignment, caught a flight back from Miami, slept four hours, and then played 74 minutes in a back-to-back. He’s probably exhausted.
With the 905 likely to take Monday off following a back-to-back, this represents a good opportunity for the youngsters to get back with the parent club for Sunday’s game and Monday’s practice.
Pre-game reading
This feature on Cory Joseph from James Herbert of CBS Sports is excellent. Read it.
