The Raptors get another chance to defeat a nemesis team, the Kings, who have great difficulty facing everyone else.
Overview
The NBA schedule-maker is a capricious beast. The Toronto Raptors face a team they have already played, just like Friday in Denver, despite not yet seeing many opponents they will be taking on four times this season.
The first match-up took place at the Air Canada Centre, and turned out to be the Raptors’ worst effort so far. The Sacramento Kings took full advantage of the absence of Jonas Valanciunas to emerge with the win. I’m harping on this game because the Raptors’ lack of secondary scoring was on prominent, ugly display. DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam(!) were the only Raptors in double figures.
JV is back for this game, and will be ready to battle with beastly DeMarcus Cousins. The Kings’ muscular center is on everyone’s Most Likely To Be Traded list, as is second-leading scorer Rudy Gay. While Kings GM Vlade Divac is spouting brave talk about keeping them both, the clock is ticking towards the February trade deadline. If the Kings are skittering around the league basement at that time, which I fully expect, Divac’s hand will be forced.
3 Keys to Victory for Toronto
3 key Kings
Nov 6, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) shoots and scores a basket as Sacramento Kings forward Rudy gay (8) tries to defend at Air Canada Centre. The Kings beat the Raptors 96-91. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Conclusion & Final Score
The Raptors are a better team on both sides of the ball. They didn’t prove it in Toronto, but have no excuses not to in Sac-to. Everyone’s healthy; even DeMarre Carroll has held his own of late.
Raptors 111 – Kings 98
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