Raptors at Bulls
The reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors look to rebound from their first loss of the season when they complete a two-game road trip Saturday against the improving Chicago Bulls. The Raptors beat New Orleans in overtime on Tuesday to open the campaign before coughing up a seven-point lead in the final 10 minutes of a 112-106 setback at Boston three nights later.
Versatile forward Pascal Siakam has been outstanding in the first two games of the post-Kawhi Leonard era, totaling 67 points and 26 rebounds while going 7-for-12 from 3-point range for Toronto, which turned over the ball 23 times and forced just 10 miscues in Friday’s loss. The Raptors attempt to record their 10th straight win over the Bulls after sweeping last season's four-game series as Siakam averaged 15 points and shot 53.1 percent in three of the contests. Chicago, which won just 22 games in 2018-19, came within two points of starting this season with a pair of victories as it dropped a 126-125 decision at Charlotte on Wednesday before Zach LaVine poured in 37 points in a 110-102 triumph at Memphis two nights later. Rookie guard Coby White has been impressive in his first two NBA contests, scoring 17 points in the opener and coming back with 25 while adding six assists in the win over the Grizzlies.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN4 (Toronto), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (1-1): Veteran guard Kyle Lowry has stepped up without Leonard beside him, averaging 25.5 points and 6.5 assists in the first two games of the season while hitting 6-of-10 shots from beyond the arc on Friday. Serge Ibaka, who has scored 13 points off the bench in each of the first two games, averaged 15.8, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in four meetings with the Bulls in 2018-19. Forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (groin) and guard Patrick McCaw (knee) have missed the first two games, but coach Nick Nurse told reporters at least one of them could play as early as Saturday.
ABOUT THE BULLS (1-1): LaVine, who scored 16 points in the season opener, was 13-for-23 from the field in Friday’s victory and grabbed six rebounds as Chicago outscored Memphis 63-42 in the second half behind 21 points from White. Power forward Lauri Markkanen recorded 35 points and 17 rebounds in the opener before missing nine of his 10 field-goal attempts and turning over the ball five times against the Grizzlies. Point guard Kris Dunn has played 50 minutes off the bench in the first two contests, going 8-for-16 from the floor and recording six assists with one turnover.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Chicago’s injury-hampered F Otto Porter Jr. was limited to 21 minutes on Friday to give him a better chance of playing back-to-back nights.
2. Toronto F Stanley Johnson recorded three points and two rebounds in five minutes during his debut with the team Friday.
3. The Bulls gave up 23 3-pointers in the season opener but allowed just 10 against Memphis.