Toronto Raptors look to sweep season series against OKC Thunder
The Toronto Raptors hit the bottom working coming off the All-Star break, with street wins against Chicago and Milwaukee. Now, they return to Toronto to tackle the Oklahoma City Thunder, who’re a league-best 44-14.
The Raptors gained 103-101 in January once they final took on the defending champions. This time round they’re going to face a depleted model as they look to sweep the season series against the league’s finest staff. Here are just a few storylines for tonight’s recreation, which is the primary leg of a back-to-back.
commercial
who es taking part in?
Remember when folks have been predicting whether or not OKC may attain 70 wins, and even attain the 2015-16 Warriors’ 73-win mark? They’re nonetheless rattling good, however with 14 losses, these conversations are formally over – and the Thunder’s harm bug will not assist their possibilities of securing the highest seed within the Western Conference. The Thunder are lacking reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander, which is a disgrace for Raptors followers who have been hoping to see Canada’s prime participant in motion. They’re additionally down All-Star ahead Jalen Williams – and with Chet Holmgren questionable with again spasms, the Raptors might even see a model of the Thunder that features none of their three finest gamers.
But the Thunder are simply one of many league’s deepest groups. Cason Wallace is a gritty defender able to large offensive performances. Isaiah Joe is a deadly shooter. Jared McCain, the second-year guard of the Thunder acquired earlier than the commerce deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers, has offered a pleasant infusion of scoring off the bench throughout this shorthanded stretch. Nikola Topic, who just lately made his debut following a battle with testicular most cancers, is getting minutes! With SGA and Williams out, the Thunder have resorted to a faster tempo that matches how the Raptors like to play.
The Raptors will likely be with out Jakob Poeltl, who’s getting a relaxation evening to handle his again harm forward of a recreation vs. the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. That will pressure somebody to play larger than their dimension against heart Isaiah Hartenstein – however it’ll additionally enable the Raptors to play quick. Scottie Barnes, who missed final recreation for private causes, is again within the lineup, together with the presumed starters of Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles. Ja’Kobe Walter began final recreation rather than Barnes, and has performed his manner into a gentle rotation spot within the wake of Ochai Agbaji being traded.
commercial
IQ!
With Scottie Barnes out, Immanuel Quickley was the driving pressure of the Raptors’ 122-94 win against the Bucks on Sunday. (An particularly necessary blowout win to assist take our minds off the gold medal recreation…) After a gradual begin to the season, Quickley has actually picked issues up within the final couple months, and significantly in February; he is averaging 20 factors per recreation on 44% three-point taking pictures this month. That sizzling taking pictures carried into Sunday’s recreation, when he went 5/11 from past the arc en route to 32 factors and 9 assists.
Another factor on show Sunday was some beautiful two-man motion with Quickley and Poeltl, who set a lot of screens that Quickley performed off brilliantly, in some instances dumping the ball to Poeltl after which relocating for the catch. The chemistry seemed good – however with Poeltl out tonight, and sure to miss a lot of video games to handle his harm, Quickley will want to discover different methods to reduce into the tooth of the protection. If he can maintain taking pictures like this, that spacing alone will likely be an enormous boon for the offense. Plus, one of many staff’s best-performing two-man pairings is Quickley with Jamal Shead. The two guards have a +8.0 web ranking per 100 possessions in 355 minutes collectively, in accordance to NBA.com.
Thumbs up?
Collin Murray-Boyles’ rookie season has been one among many positives for the 2025-26 Raptors. With Poeltl out and in of the lineup, CMB has performed its manner into being an occasional starter. His protection appears to be like manner forward of schedule, and he is proven very good playmaking flashes. Where he has room for enchancment is his assertiveness beneath the basket. Sometimes he’ll maintain onto the ball or kick out when one of the best play could be to assault the rim.
commercial
But Murray-Boyles has been nursing a left thumb harm which has saved him out of video games, and in all probability is a significant component in that hesitance. We noticed him wince and seize that thumb after a powerful dunk try, on which he drew a foul, against the Chicago Bulls final week. The very last thing Raptors followers need is for the rookie to significantly re-aggravate his thumb. That will surely not be excellent news for head coach Darko Rajakovic, who’s already not working with a lot dimension on the roster. But CMB may unlock one thing if he goes up a degree across the rim, and could be extra harmful when he is grabbing his 2.5 offensive rebounds per recreation.
