- This one started on a funny note for some of us. If you were watching the game on the Lakers’ broadcast, apparently Kawhi Leonard has already decided to leave Toronto next season. Who knew?
- We got our first Eric Moreland minutes, some Malcolm Miller minutes, and some fun, funky point-center Pascal Siakam minutes. All fun stuff.
- Nick Nurse pre-game was talking about Marc Gasol shooting more instead of looking for the magic knockout pass. “I want him to bomb some more 3s, maybe five or six a night, try to get that little part of his game back on track. Cut him loose a little bit.”
- Gasol responded well, scoring 12 points in the first half, including three long jumpers. He finished with 15 points on 2-4 shooting from deep.
- Gasol’s scoring was a hot-button issue. Adrian Griffin agreed in his half-time interview, saying “I like him shooting the ball. The more he’s shooting the better.”
- “The more [Marc Gasol] gets minutes in the starting unit, the better he’ll play with those guys,” Norman Powell said of Gasol after the game. He was incredibly complementary of Gasol’s game and the chemistry the two of them have established early.
- Despite choosing to close with newly signed Moreland, Nick Nurse said that Gasol was fine after the game. He took a shot to the shoulder and didn’t return, but Nurse really just wanted to get a look at his new big. With Ibaka out, Nurse needs to get a handle on Moreland quickly and know what he has. Gasol himself confirmed his health after the game as well.
- Pascal Siakam has been one of the only constants for the lineup this year. He knows: “I feel like I need a raise,” he said jokingly after the game.
- Toronto won’t play until Sunday against Detroit, which is the first leg of a back-to-back that will end at home against the Knicks. We’ll see whether Lowry will return, Leonard will play, or who knows what else injury might pop up.
