The Toronto Raptors will suit up for their first home game since Dec. 21 against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, and they’ll hope the friendly confines of the Air Canada Centre can get them back on track.
After winning two of the first three games on a difficult six-game road trip, Toronto dropped three consecutive contests, surrendering first place in the Eastern Conference to the surging Atlanta Hawks in the process.
Rumour had it DeMar DeRozan would make his return against the Hornets—a team that has had Toronto’s number in recent years—but the all-star guard stated he will not play until he gets a few more practices under his belt.
Charlotte lands in Toronto fresh off a come-from-behind victory over Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. Kemba Walker was the hero in that one, drilling the game-winning shot with 1.4 seconds left on the clock.
Catch tonight’s action live at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific.
Major Storyline 1: Take care of home court. Raptors fans travelled well over the holidays, making their presence felt up and down the west coast, but still, it’s good to be home. Toronto should be poised to take full advantage as they average 105.5 points per game north of the border. Charlotte, in the midst of a disastrous season, ranks 28th in road scoring at only 93.6 points per.
Major Storyline 2: Minimize turnovers. The Hornets and Raptors are the top two teams in the NBA when it comes to taking care of the rock, sacrificing a miniscule 11.9 (Charlotte) and 12.0 (Toronto) turnovers per outing. Toronto was uncharacteristically sloppy in their last two games, coughing up 15 turnovers against Golden State and 20 against Phoenix. Winning the turnover battle will be key against a squad that struggles to generate offence, especially on the road.
Major Storyline 3: Pack the paint. That Charlotte struggles to score isn’t all that surprising when you get a look at their shooting percentages. The Hornets rank 28th in field-goal percentage (42.7%) and 29th in three-point percentage (31.2%). Even though Buzz City’s most imposing post presence, Al Jefferson, is out of the lineup with a groin issue, the Raptors would be wise to push their visitors out to the perimeter, minimizing opportunities in the paint.
Marquee Player to Watch, Toronto: Amir Johnson. With Jefferson out of commission, Johnson’s defensive assignment is significantly easier. The Westchester high school product will have to contend with the young Cody Zeller and the offensively limited Bismack Biyombo in the starting lineup. If Johnson can keep these two off the glass, he should be in for a relatively relaxing night on the defensive end, opening up the possibility of a productive offensive performance.
Marquee Player to Watch, Charlotte: Kemba Walker. If you thought Lowry’s streak of matchups against high-end point men ended with the road trip, think again. Walker may not be on quite the same level as Chris Paul, Steph Curry or Damian Lillard, but he is an explosive playmaker averaging 18.4 points and 5.5 assists a night. Walker went off for 31 points against the Pelicans last night, and the former University of Connecticut star will have to carry the load once again for Charlotte to have a chance in this one.
Role Player Who Will Make a Difference, Toronto: Greivis Vasquez. In typical fashion, the Venezuelan point guard had three double-digit-scoring outings on the six-game trip… and scored a combined six points in the other three. Sunday’s game against the Suns was one of the poor showings, so Vasquez could be in for a bounce back. He’ll also have to contain Gary Neal, who comes off the bench to average nearly 11 points per game for the Hornets.
Role Player Who Will Make a Difference, Charlotte: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. When Charlotte drafted the athletic Kidd-Gilchrist with the second overall pick in 2012, the team knew it was getting a solid defensive player with untapped offensive potential. The scoring punch has not developed as planned, but the Philadelphia native is having a decent year, averaging 9.7 points and 6.2 rebounds. With Jefferson and Lance Stephenson both out, MKG will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the increased touches, as witnessed by his 13 point, 12 rebound performance against the Pelicans on Wednesday.
Last season vs. Hornets (Bobcats): 0-3
Raptors Stats Leaders:
Points: Kyle Lowry (20.6)
Rebounds: Jonas Valanciunas (8.6)
Assists: Kyle Lowry (7.6)
Hornets Stats Leaders:
Points: Kemba Walker (18.4)
Rebounds: Al Jefferson (8.2)
Assists: Kemba Walker (5.5)
Verdict: Toronto has had a good long time to rest up between games, while their visitors played in a nail-biter the night before. Combine that with superior talent, and the Raptors should be primed to stop their three-game losing streak tonight at the ACC. Still, beware the trap game.
