The NBA schedule-maker is a capricious beast. The Toronto Raptors face a team they have already played, just like Friday in Denver, despite not yet seeing many opponents they will be taking on four times this season.
The first match-up took place at the Air Canada Centre, and turned out to be the Raptors’ worst effort so far. The Sacramento Kings took full advantage of the absence of Jonas Valanciunas to emerge with the win. I’m harping on this game because the Raptors’ lack of secondary scoring was on prominent, ugly display. DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam(!