Raptors’ Lowry, Powell ruled out for Friday’s game versus Orlando – Sportsnet.ca
Lowry has been dealing with a nagging thigh contusion as well as back spasms that have caused him to miss five games over the past couple weeks. His current timetable for a return is unknown. Through the 30 appearances he’s made so far this season, the 32-year-old point guard has averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 9.8 assists.
The team also announced that guard Norman Powell (personal) will miss Friday’s game against the Magic. Powell has been good for the Raptors since returning to lineup. In four games, the fourth-year pro has averaged 7.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 52.2 per cent from the field.
Toronto will also be without Jonas Valanciunas, who remains sidelined as he recovers from thumb surgery, while Chris Boucher, who is recovering from an ankle injury, has been upgraded to probable for Firday after previously being listed as questionable by the team.
How Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam is Leading for the Most Improved Player Award
Pascal Siakam is tied for 18th in Real Plus-Minus, and one of only five players with 2+ Offensive and 1.5+ Defensive Real Plus-Minus. The other four players are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, and Paul George. Siakam has an incredible 4.69 RPM wins already, ranking him 16th in the league. He is the only player on a rookie deal with at least 4 RPM wins. Only three other players on a rookie deal have at least 3 RPM wins, in Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic, and De’Aaron Fox.
When he is on the court, he makes an impact. Seven of the Toronto Raptors 10 best lineups feature Siakam. Toronto’s 115.3 offensive rating falls to a 102.4 when Pascal Siakam sits, and their defensive rating worsens by 2.3 points, as well. His exceptional ability to take care of business efficiently on the offense contributes to a big plus in both assist percentage and assist to turnover ratio. While not monumental, the team sees a slight boost in rebounding percentage when he is playing, also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ZIUC4ItdQ
Raptors’ Lowry ruled out vs. Magic – TSN.ca
Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry will miss his second straight game when the team takes on the Orlando Magic on the road Friday night, the team announced.
Lowry, who is dealing with a back injury, also missed the team’s 106-104 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The four-time all-star has played in just one of Toronto’s last six contests.
In 30 games so far this season, Lowry is averaging 14.4 points per game to go along with 9.8 assists.
Chris Boucher, one of the Raptors’ two-way players that they recalled after Jonas Valanciunas dislocated his left thumb, is questionable to play in tomorrow’s game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmR8SVeYxpQ
Magic Have Played Well Against NBA’s Elite Teams This Season | Orlando Magic
“This year, we’ve played really, really well against the really good teams,’’ Augustin said, referring to Orlando’s defeats of Boston, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Utah and Los Angeles Lakers (twice) and narrow defeats against Golden State, Toronto, Denver and Philadelphia. “If only we could bring that same mindset against teams not as good, we’d be doing fine. It’s a long season and we’ll be fine. But (Friday) night, we’ll need to be ultra-focused against Toronto.’’
Coincidentally, the Raptors were the team that ended Orlando’s 7-2 run and a season-best three-game winning streak in the first meeting of the season at the Amway Center. That November night, the Magic looked every bit the equals of the mighty Raptors and superstar forward Kawhi Leonard, but they lost a 93-91 heartbreaker when guard Danny Green sank a short baseline jumper as time expired.
That first meeting transpired, however, when the Magic were at their best. Orlando has fallen on hard times of late, dropping the four games straight and seven of nine, because of alternating issues with their shooting and defense and poor beginnings by the starters and shoddy play by the reserves.
Terrence Ross fined $25K for tossing ball into stands
Terrence Ross’ hot temper is going to cost him.
The Magic guard has been fined $25,000 for tossing the game ball into the stands at the end of his team’s 122-120 overtime loss to the Suns on Wednesday.
The incident occurred after Evan Fournier missed a three-point shot for the win. Ross grabbed the ball and threw it out of frustration as Orlando suffered its fourth straight loss.
Ross, 27, is averaging a career-best 13.4 points per game in his second full season with the Magic. He initially was selected No. 8 overall by the Raptors in 2012 before being traded from Toronto to Orlando in 2017.
He will face his former team Friday when the Magic (14-19) host the Raptors (26-10) at 7 p.m. ET.
Raptors news: Dwyane Wade says Kawhi Leonard should be leading the MVP charge
Respect from one Finals MVP to another. Dwyane Wade on Kawhi Leonard last night: “When it comes to MVP talk, I feel like he should definitely be leading the charge. He is a player that plays both ends of the floor and at the end of the game makes big plays and shots.”
Friday NBA preview: Toronto Raptors at Orlando Magic | The Star
NEED TO KNOW
The Raptors have won the last three games in Orlando, including on a buzzer-beating shot by Danny Green earlier this season … Ex-Raptor Terrence Ross is shooting close to a career-best 39.1 per cent from three-point range … Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry missed Wednesday’s game in Miami with a bad back. He’ll be a game-time decision … Orlando’s lost four in a row and is only 8-11 at home this season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rsCUwKuDi8
Raptors mastering art of the rebound | The Star
There is much to like and appreciate about the 26-10 NBA leaders. Resilience and maturity would be right near the top of any list.
“We’ve got a lot of guys on this team with character,” Fred VanVleet told reporters in Miami on Wednesday night.
VanVleet’s assessment came after yet another gutsy Toronto victory, this time a comeback from 17 points in arrears in the third quarter to beat the Miami Heat 106-104.
The Raptors could very well have slunk off into the night, taken the loss and started thinking about the next outing when the game seemed out of hand, but there seems to be something in the collective DNA that doesn’t allow that to happen. Instead of folding, they kept playing, narrowing the gap more and more with each passing minute, surviving the inevitable and expected replies from the Heat, and winning when Danny Green made a clutch three-pointer in the dying seconds.
