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Toronto Raptors: Whose stock is rising/falling, plus Kyle Lowry heats up

By Thomas Valentine

TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 5: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the national anthem prior to the game against the Houston Rockets on March 5, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 5: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the national anthem prior to the game against the Houston Rockets on March 5, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors started their week well but ended up falling further behind the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference. How did each player fare individually, though?

Well, a week that started in exhilarating fashion finished with a whimper. The Toronto Raptors began the week with a victory against the Portland Trail Blazers before dropping two straight games against the Detroit Pistons and the Houston Rockets.

The manner of each defeat varied from the other, but the feeling of a missed opportunity was very prevalent in both games.

Had the Raptors beaten both the Pistons and the Houston Rockets, they would have been a game back of the Milwaukee Bucks in first place. The Bucks have also dropped their last two games with losses against the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns(!), but the Raptors inability to close the gap means they are now two and a half games behind, with the number one seed seemingly all but settled now.

The week started off so well for the Toronto Raptors. In one of the most exciting games of the season, the Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors squared off in a game that came down to the final moments.

The Raptors pulled ahead early on but the effort from the Trail Blazers to grind the lead down was commendable, and courtesy of Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors came out on top with another game-winner from the former Finals MVP.

That was as good as the week ever got for Nick Nurse and the team, as they dropped two consecutive games against the Detroit Pistons and the Houston Rockets.

Dwane Casey once again got the last laugh against his former team, with the Pistons running away with the victory in overtime, despite Kyle Lowry putting up a season-high 35 points and going full KLOE.

The following game against the Rockets turned out to be one of the most disappointing games of the season for the Toronto Raptors. The Rockets were the far superior team for large portions of the game, with the Raptors only really coming to life in the third quarter.

James Harden was his usual self with 35 points, even if the Raptors contained him for long stretches during the game. The bench let the team down, as we will soon find out.

And just like that, we’re checking what is what.

Let’s start with a positive.

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