Photo Credit: The Canadian Press
The 7-11 Toronto Raptors will host the 7-10 Sacramento Kings in Tampa Bay tonight in a rematch from Jan. 8 that saw Toronto post their season-high in points scored during a 144-123 road win for the Raptors.
Toronto is looking to break a two-game losing streak after back-to-back losses to the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks. In the Raptors’ most recent loss, the Bucks spoiled Kyle Lowry’s 10,000th-point game, defeating the Raptors 115-108.
Sacramento, although owning a similar win-loss record, have had more success over the last week. The Kings have won both of their last two games, including a 121-107 win against the Orlando Magic on the road.
Toronto will have their hands full trying to guard Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield. Fox and Barnes lead the team in points, averaging 20.6 and 16.2 per game, respectively. Hield is currently third in the NBA in three pointers made with 3.9 per game.
The keys for a Raptors victory tonight are three-point percentage and defensive rebounding.
When the Raptors have won games this season, they’ve averaged 40.9% from three-point range compared to 35.7% in their 11 losses – a 5.2% difference in shooting efficiency. On the other hand, the Kings average 47.9 rebounds when they’re successful; however, that average drops by 7.7 to 40.2 rebounds per losing game. Similarly, Toronto averages 34.6 defensive rebounds in a win but only see 32.2 in an average loss.
OG Anunoby is listed as “day-to-day” with a calf injury and is questionable to return for tonight’s matchup, per Josh Lewenberg. Patrick McCaw is still out for Toronto as he continues to recover from knee surgery, but has progressed enough to participate in modified drills during practice, Lewenberg reports.
Nemanja Bjelica and DaQuan Jeffries are ruled out with injuries for Sacramento.
The Raptors are set to tip-off against the Kings at 7:30 p.m. EST.
