Toronto is remaining in Los Angeles for the second night of a back-to-back as they will head to Intuit Dome to take on a team they were entangled with for months, the Los Angeles Clippers. Coming off of a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers last night, tonight should be a much more manageable offense that Toronto has to defend. The Clippers have not been an impressive team this season, so even without Kawhi Leonard in the lineup Toronto should be able to handle business tonight and get back to over .500.
Raptors outlook
Record: 3-3 (5th in Eastern Conference)
Offensive Rating: 115.1 (10th)
Defensive Rating: 107.3 (5th)
Net Rating: 7.8 (7th)
Raptors previous results
Vs Lakers 131-125 L
Vs Magic 121-114 L
Vs Magic 129-99 W
The Los Angeles Clippers do not have many good defenders, and they do not have much of a presence inside the paint especially. With their defense anchored by Isaiah Jackson their weaknesses on that end of the ball fit right into a strength for some of Toronto’s stars, which is getting into and scoring in the paint. Scottie Barnes has been heating up as a scorer lately as currently constructed, Los Angeles will not be the ones to shut his water off. Tonight is a night where Toronto should win just based on their talent alone, the Clippers simply do not have enough talent on either end to match what Toronto has. Toronto’s defense will also be too much for the Clippers to handle most likely, because outside of Darius Garland, the Clippers do not have a reliable creator who can navigate those treacherous waters.
Clippers outlook
Record: 1-5 (13th in Western Conference)
Offensive Rating: 105.9 (25th)
Defensive Rating: 112.3 (18th)
Net Rating: –6.7 (22nd)
Clippers previous results:
@ Warriors 124-112 L
vs Timberwolves 127-101 L
vs Lakers 103-87 L
It would take a huge game from Garland both as a scorer and as a playmaker tonight in order for the Clippers to have a chance to come away with a win. The only other players on their team who can create are Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal, who are both sidelined with their own respective injuries. Toronto just has to contain Garland, and the entire Clippers house of cards will crumble on them. This should be one of the easier games that Toronto will have for the entire season, and it will give their defense the chance put the squeeze on another team.
Game Info
Tip-Off: 10:00 p.m. ET
Television: TSN / TSN+
Radio: Sportsnet 590
Venue: Scotiabank Arena
Starting Lineups (Projected)
Los Angeles Clippers
PG: Darius Garland
SG: Kris Dunn
SF: Derrick Jones Jr
PF: Rui Hachimura
C: Isaiah Jackson
Toronto Raptors
PG: Immanuel Quickley
SG: RJ Barrett
SF: Ja’Kobe Walter
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Jakob Poeltl
Injury Report
Toronto Raptors
Nate Bittle – Out (Right Foot Avulsion Fracture)
Malachi Smith – Out (G-League Two-Way)
Kawhi Leonard – Out (Left Knee Effusion/Swelling)
Los Angeles Clippers
Max Strus – Out (Foot)
Jordan Miller – Out (Shoulder)
Brandon Ingram – Out (Achilles)
Bradley Beal – Out (Hip)
Yonic Konan Niederhauser – Out (Foot)
