The Raptors are even more shorthanded tonight as they deal Shai, Lu and the Thunder.
You’re going to hear the number 73 a lot tonight, because it seems the only thing anyone can talk about when it comes to the Oklahoma City Thunder is their 73-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies last week. But life moves fast in the NBA, and the Thunder went on to win their very next game, against the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
Which brings us to today, as the Thunder are in town to face the Toronto Raptors. It’s been nearly week since that loss and the Raptors, and their fans, would do well not to dwell on it and focus on the here and now. Because taking this Thunder team too lightly isn’t a good idea. They were a very respectable (considering their roster) 6-8 before the eight-game losing streak that culminated in that Grizzlies loss! Shai-Gilgeous Alexander can light it up, and Lu Dort can lock it down, and given Toronto’s inconsistency on both ends of the floor this season, their margin for error is almost as thin as OKC’s.
In late-breaking lineup news, the Raptors have ruled Precious Achiuwa out of this one with a sore shoulder. With OG Anunoby and Khem Birch also on the shelf, the centre-less Raptors are really centre-less now! No word on a replacement starter as of this writing, but you’ll find my best guess below.
Can the undermanned and undersized Raptors take down the Thunder, or will they join the Pistons as the second member of the Teams That Lost to the Team That Lost by 73 Points Club? Let’s watch!
Where to Watch:
Sportsnet, 7:30 PM ET
Lineups:
Toronto – Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Chris Boucher
Oklahoma City – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort, Darius Bazley, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Injuries:
Toronto – Precious Achiuwa (shoulder – out), OG Anunoby (hip – out), Khem Birch (knee – out), Goran Dragic (personal – out)
Oklahoma City – None