The Toronto Raptors snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak, handing them a 113-104 defeat at the Staples Center on Sunday.
The defending champs are staying in Los Angeles, as they take on the Clippers and former Raptors star Kawhi Leonard next on Monday.
Asked what he thinks of his first encounter with Leonard since he bolted the Raptors for the Clippers in the offseason, head coach Nick Nurse had this to say, via Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports:
“It was great to see Danny (Green) tonight and it's going to be great to see Kawhi… And in saying that I'm going to stay up late tonight trying to devise some kind of scheme to try to make life very difficult on him tomorrow.”
Leonard, of course, brought Toronto to new heights in his lone season in Canada, averaging 29.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 block last year.
“The Klaw” gave Toronto its first NBA title in franchise history, winning the Finals MVP award after edging the Golden State Warriors in six games last June.
The Raptors have since moved on after Leonard’s departure and are actually still looking like contenders at the beginning of the season.
The team is only behind the Boston Celtics in the East standings with a 7-2 record, with last year’s Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam assuming the role of superstar in Leonard’s stead.
Toronto will still be shorthanded once more as Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka will likely miss the coming games due to separate injuries.
Follow Us
Subscribe