Bobcats at Raptors
THE STORY: Teams sitting 13 games below .500 have few games on their schedule that could be classified as “gimmes.” Fortunately for the Toronto Raptors, they'll enjoy one such contest Friday night as they host the punchless Charlotte Bobcats. Toronto has dropped six of seven but has to like its chances of reversing that trend as it takes on a Bobcats team that has lost 16 straight games, the longest skid in the NBA this season. It's the first meeting between the teams since last March.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN2
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (3-26): Not even the return of guard D.J. Augustin from an 11-game absence could help Charlotte end its longest losing skid in franchise history. Augustin scored nine points in 24 minutes as the Bobcats fell 102-90 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, falling to 1-15 on the road and 0-7 in February. Offense has been the club's biggest concern, having cracked the 100-point barrier just three times so far.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (9-22): Toronto hung tough with a surging San Antonio Spurs club before ultimately falling 113-106 on Wednesday. Toronto finally gets some rest following the Charlotte encounter, with four days off before its next game against Detroit and then another five days of rest thanks to the All-Star festivities. The weary Raptors haven't had more than one day off between games since the start of the season.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Toronto Raptors expect to have guard Jerryd Bayless back in the lineup. Bayless has missed the last four games with a left ankle injury.
2. Charlotte has won four straight in the head-to-head series.
3. Raptors PG Jose Calderon is averaging 22 points while shooting a blistering 63.9 percent (39 for 62) over his last four games.