Game Thread: Toronto Raptors vs. Denver Nuggets

With the trade deadline looming and rumours flying, the Raptors will need to dial in the focus against one of the West’s best. Let’s watch.

We forgive you if you forgot the Raptors were playing a basketball game tonight. Talk around the team has been anything but ball-related this week, as tomorrow’s trade deadline is now promising a flurry of activity. Both Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell swap possibilities are being discussed by Toronto’s front office, according to multiple sources, and the team that takes the court tonight could be very different than the one that goes out Friday vs. Phoenix.

But still, we march ahead. All eligible Raptors will be in uniform tonight, which means that at the very least there’s nothing imminent in the next couple hours. Lowry and Powell are both in the starting lineup with their usual counterparts, as the team once again tries to snap an extended losing streak — now at nine games.

Denver, meanwhile, is riding a five-game win streak into tonight’s contest. Nikola Jokic is getting more MVP buzz than ever — especially with the recent LeBron James injury — and he proved himself a formidable opponent in Tuesday’s win over Orlando, recording the 53rd triple-double of his career with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

Needless to say, Toronto is in tough after losing winnable games against middling Eastern Conference opponents. The next three are a lot tougher, with Phoenix and Portland waiting for their turn in Amelie Arena.

For more on tonight’s game, check out the preview from Josh Kern. Here are the game details.

Where to Watch

TSN, 7:30 PM ET

Lineups

Toronto — Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, Norman Powell, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam

Denver — Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Michael Porter Jr., Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic

Injuries

Toronto — Patrick McCaw (out – knee)

Denver — Gary Harris (out – left adductor), Monte Morris (out – left quad), Greg Whittington (out – right knee)