A 1-4 start is definitely rough for the Toronto Raptors, and if things don't turn around quickly, the fate of the franchise (and likely coach Darko Rajakovic's job) could be on the line.
No one expected this first stretch of regular season basketball to be all sunshine and roses for the Raps per se, but after putting up such a dominant performance against Atlanta in their season opener, things haven’t looked as flawless. The team has been struggling with a clunky defensive scheme and some clear chemistry issues. Tonight, on Halloween night (and coinciding with Game 6 of the World Series... Go Jays Go!), things don’t get any easier for the Raptors. They’re kicking off NBA Cup group play on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Cavs are coming off a 20-point loss in their last night out against the Celtics on October 29, where on a night where the starters provided a decently balanced spark, it just was not enough to match Boston's equally matched firepower produced on all fronts (including a 30-point barrage by Jaylen Brown). The Raptors also played on October 29, when they faced the Houston Rockets, and unfortunately, their woes of containing the opposition continued. As a result, they lost their fourth game in a row.
Cleveland currently holds a 3-2 record thus far, which is good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors, as previously mentioned with their 1-4 record, currently hold the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference. Of the five teams included in East Group A, it'd be a pretty fair argument to say that the Cavaliers are the powerhouse of their block, which also features the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards.
For the Raptors, they will once again be without their veteran center Jakob Poeltl, who continues to nurse nagging back issues. While he hasn't been a difference-maker thus far in the games he has played, the absence of Poeltl is still a huge blow for Toronto, to lose their lone big-man capable of boxing out for rebounds. It'll likely be on the hands of promising rookie Collin Murray-Boyles and bench spark Sandro Mamukelashvili to pick up the center duties left behind.
The Cavaliers are currently without their lead guard Darius Garland and their sharpshooting wing Max Strus, both of whom haven't played yet this season due to injury. Backup guard Sam Merrill is also out because of a right hip contusion. Additionally, two other key starters have been upgraded to miss tonight’s NBA Cup game. Donovan Mitchell is out dealing with left hamstring tightness, and Jarrett Allen is out dealing with a finger fracture.
Full injury report for Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Toronto Raptors
Out: Chucky Hepburn (G League, Two-Way), A.J. Lawson (G League, Two-Way), Alijah Martin (G-League, Two-Way), Jakob Poeltl (Low Back; Tightness)
Cleveland Cavaliers
Out: Darius Garland (Left Great Toe; Surgical Recovery), Max Strus (Left Foot; Surgery - Jones Fracture), Sam Merrill (Right Hip; Contusion), Jarrett Allen (Left Hand; 4th Finger - Fracture), Donovan Mitchell (Left Hamstring; Tightness)