Post by Last Stand on Mar 26, 2016 21:58:34 GMT
Raptors @ Pelicans tonight
Game Preview: www.nba.com/raptors/gameday-032616
Game Preview: www.nba.com/raptors/gameday-032616
Toronto (48-23) completes a back-to-back tonight in New Orleans (26-45) at Smoothie King Center. The Raps will have to pick themselves up and bounce back after a frustrating loss in Houston last night. The Pelicans have endured an injury-ravaged season and enter tonight having dropped seven of their last nine contests.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Alexis Ajinca – With Anthony Davis out for the season following surgery, Ajinca is a candidate to see an increase in playing time. The seven footer is coming off a season-best 22-point, nine-rebound performance Thursday night in Indiana. The one time Raptor has also had some good outings against his former team including 10 points and nine rebounds in their first matchup in November.
Norman Powell– The hard work continues to pay off for Powell who was solid once again in Houston last night. Finishing with 13 points and four rebounds, the 22-year old was also a pest on defence adding a block and a steal. At 6’4”, Powell is developing a reputation for throwing down big in-game dunks including this one yesterday...
RIGHT THE SHIP
Not the ideal start to a three-game roadtrip as the Raptors look to salvage something tonight in New Orleans after dropping consecutive games in Boston & Houston.
While Lowry & Patterson returned to the lineup against the Rockets, the Raps were without Terrence Ross who was forced to sit due to a thumb injury. Houston's bench outscored Toronto’s 44-31 en route to a 112-109 victory.
What you don’t see very often is a Raptors player getting ejected from a game, let alone two of their players. Last night both Lowry & DeRozan hit the showers early after frustrations boiled over and they were assessed multiple technical fouls, both in the fourth quarter.
Toronto is 3-3 this season after losing two straight. The good news is they get another opportunity to grab victory No. 49, equaling last year’s win total still with 11 games remaining.
Tonight’s opponent is a Pelicans team that is without their All-Star forward Anthony Davis as well as Eric Gordon for the remainder of the season. Other starters are also questionable to play, with Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday both nursing injuries.
The Raptors may be considered the favourites tonight but should not overlook New Orleans who sport a winning record at home and who recently defeated a fourth place Clippers team.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Alexis Ajinca – With Anthony Davis out for the season following surgery, Ajinca is a candidate to see an increase in playing time. The seven footer is coming off a season-best 22-point, nine-rebound performance Thursday night in Indiana. The one time Raptor has also had some good outings against his former team including 10 points and nine rebounds in their first matchup in November.
Norman Powell– The hard work continues to pay off for Powell who was solid once again in Houston last night. Finishing with 13 points and four rebounds, the 22-year old was also a pest on defence adding a block and a steal. At 6’4”, Powell is developing a reputation for throwing down big in-game dunks including this one yesterday...
RIGHT THE SHIP
Not the ideal start to a three-game roadtrip as the Raptors look to salvage something tonight in New Orleans after dropping consecutive games in Boston & Houston.
While Lowry & Patterson returned to the lineup against the Rockets, the Raps were without Terrence Ross who was forced to sit due to a thumb injury. Houston's bench outscored Toronto’s 44-31 en route to a 112-109 victory.
What you don’t see very often is a Raptors player getting ejected from a game, let alone two of their players. Last night both Lowry & DeRozan hit the showers early after frustrations boiled over and they were assessed multiple technical fouls, both in the fourth quarter.
Toronto is 3-3 this season after losing two straight. The good news is they get another opportunity to grab victory No. 49, equaling last year’s win total still with 11 games remaining.
Tonight’s opponent is a Pelicans team that is without their All-Star forward Anthony Davis as well as Eric Gordon for the remainder of the season. Other starters are also questionable to play, with Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday both nursing injuries.
The Raptors may be considered the favourites tonight but should not overlook New Orleans who sport a winning record at home and who recently defeated a fourth place Clippers team.