Toronto Raptors Roundup: Week Seven

Toronto Raptors Roundup is a weekly segment where we fill you in on all the games, highlights and stories from last week. Here’s what you missed from the seventh week of the season.

The Toronto Raptors entered the week with the best record in the NBA, and they’d finish the week in the same position. But along the way, they’d be challenged by tougher competition, facing off against the grit and grind defense of the Memphis Grizzlies, followed by the NBA champions Golden State Warriors, before finishing the week with a road game against the Cavs.

Game Recap

Toronto at Memphis

The Raptors began the week against a much improved Grizzlies team on the road.

The Raps trailed through most of the game only to battle back in the fourth to post an impressive comeback victory 122-114.

Kawhi, facing double and triple teams for much of the night, sparked a sputtering offence by finding the right guy at the right time when it counted.

Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry were the recipients of Leonard’s vision and were solid from three in crunch time, icing the Grizzlies in what must have been a tough loss for a team that controlled the game for much of the night.

Golden State at Toronto

In one of the most anticipated games of the early season, the champion Warriors (sans Stephen Curry and Draymond Green) came north to take on the best of the East on a nationally televised game in both the U.S. and Canada.

The Raptors jumped out to an early lead and sustained it through much of the first three periods. But when Kevin Durant is the opponent, you can never rest. He finished the game with 51 points including several “how did he hit that” three-pointers late in the fourth to send the game to OT.

New additions, Leonard and Danny Green showed their veteran leadership, steadying the ship when times got tough.

The Raps emerged in overtime with an impressive, character building 131-128 victory.

Cleveland at Toronto

These games are always dangerous. Games after emotional victories against very good teams can often cause a team to play down to its next competition. Throw in the absence of Kyle Lowry, who sat out due to back pain, and you’d be forgiven if you thought a Raptor loss was a possibility.

But the Raptors came through with a 106-95 victory, led by Kawhi Leonard who dropped 34. Fred VanVleet, who got the start in place of the injured Lowry, scored 15.

"“I didn’t miss him at all,” VanVleet joked. “Any time I can get extra minutes, and extra shots up, I’m happy.”"

The Raptors are now at 20 wins on the season, reaching the milestone faster than ever before in franchise history.

The Week Ahead

Denver at Toronto

Nikola Jokic leads the Denver Nuggets (15-7) to town riding a five-game winning streak. The Nuggets, led by Jokic, Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap, run out a talented, deep team, often going 10 deep on any given night. Mason Plumlee has been impressive off the bench for the Nuggets this year.

Philadelphia at Toronto

Raptor fans get their first look at the three-headed monster of the Philadelphia 76’ers. Jimmy Butler has nearly seamlessly integrated himself alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The Sixers (16-8) are 8-2 in their last ten games, but will most likely still be without Markelle Fultz who is seeking further medical opinion on his shoulder problems.

Toronto at Brooklyn

The Nets (8-16) host the Raptors next Friday. The Nets have been downright awful this year and are at such a low point, they are turning to ref-blaming as excuses for losses. Raptors fans can empathize. D’Angelo Russell and Jarrett Allen remain threats and are always capable of putting up big numbers on any given night. Look for the Raptors to win big and may look to rest a player or two.

Milwaukee at Toronto

I didn’t think the game against Golden State this past week was a statement game or a test. This game against Milwaukee? Yeah, it is. They’re an eastern conference rival, a real possibility for a second or third round matchup and we’ll both be putting a full squad onto the court. Look for Kawhi and Giannis to light it up next Sunday. And, look for both teams to be going full tilt. Both teams see this as a statement game, no matter what they say.