If ever a team has earned a few days off to catch its collective breath, it’s the Toronto Raptors.
With a stirring, successful, professional five-game Western road trip in the books, not having a game until Saturday at home is a welcome respite.
And a well-deserved one.
Each of the five road games were close, all within five points with less than five minutes remaining, a mentally draining and physically exhausting stretch for an undermanned team.
The Raptors came through with flying colours with wins over Phoenix, Golden State, Sacramento and Utah after a trip-beginning loss in Denver, and they did so with a patchwork roster most nights.