Raptors at Bobcats
THE STORY: With Jose Calderon sidelined with an ankle injury and Leandro Barbosa shipped to Indiana, the Toronto Raptors are expected to give point guard Jerryd Bayless plenty of playing time. He'll look to build on an impressive showing as the Raptors visit the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night. Bayless erupted for 28 points and added nine assists as Toronto fended off the Memphis Grizzlies 114-110 in overtime on Friday. The Bobcats sit last in the NBA, but have already beaten Toronto once this season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (15-29): Saturday marks the fourth game in five nights for Toronto, and the Raptors are expected to be a tired bunch after playing five extra minutes in Memphis before leaving immediately for North Carolina. The Raptors have predictably struggled on the second night of back-to-backs, winning just three of 13 games. Toronto faces a similar stretch next week, and that one should be much tougher – the Raptors face New York and Chicago twice each over a five-day span.
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (6-36): Charlotte had some nibbles but ultimately opted to stand pat at this week's trade deadline. Armed with a young roster and in position to have plenty of cap flexibility on the horizon, the Bobcats entertained discussions for veterans Boris Diaw and D.J. Augustin but weren't prepared to take on extra salary – especially with this season now a lost cause. "The last thing we wanted to do is make a trade just to say we made a trade," Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins said.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Charlotte's 98-91 triumph over Toronto back on Feb. 17 ended the Bobcats' franchise-record 16-game losing skid. The club is just 2-10 since.
2. Raptors F/C Andrea Bargnani is averaging just 12 points on 39.1 percent shooting in five games since returning from a calf injury that cost him the previous 20 contests.
3. Saturday's contest should be a low-scoring affair, with Toronto ranked 28th in the NBA in offense at 90.1 points per game and the Bobcats last with 87.