It could be the most highly anticipated game of the season. It could be the reason why the team has looked shaken up since Monday’s game against Brooklyn. However, it most definitely is the first nationally televised game of the year for the Raptors – a home split against the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
So what happened this week?
Kyle Lowry’s injury, Serge Ibaka’s suspension, DeMar DeRozan’s fine: none are related, but they all play into Thursday night’s game against a team that has become the biggest road block for the Raptors over the course of the last three seasons.