Raptors at Spurs
The trade that was made with an eye toward the future is paying immediate dividends for Toronto. The Raptors are 5-2 since sending Rudy Gay to Sacramento, and they're atop the weak Atlantic Division heading into a road test at San Antonio on Monday. The Spurs suffered a rare home defeat Saturday, losing 113-100 to Oklahoma City to fall to 9-3 at AT&T Center.
Toronto beat that same Thunder team on its home floor Sunday, rallying in the fourth quarter for a 104-98 victory - the most impressive performance yet during its four-game road winning streak. "I'm seeing the mental toughness growing," Raptors coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "I've talked to the guys about how tough you've got to be to take punches in this league." The Spurs have won six of their last eight overall and are 9-1 against Eastern Conference teams.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), FSN Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (11-14): Toronto has been much more efficient since shipping Gay to Sacramento, and the Raptors had five players score in double digits against the Thunder. One of them was veteran small forward John Salmons, who put up nine of his 14 in the fourth quarter in his best game thus far since coming over from the Kings. Power forward Amir Johnson also has flourished recently, averaging 18 points and 9.6 rebounds over the last nine games with five double-doubles during that stretch.
ABOUT THE SPURS (21-6): San Antonio has one of the deepest benches in the league and averages an NBA-best 45.7 points from its reserves. Manu Ginobili (11.5 points) and Marco Belinelli (10.5 points) lead the second unit and are among five players averaging double digits in scoring. Small forward Kawhi Leonard, one of the team's best on-ball defenders, should be back in the lineup after sitting out against Oklahoma City following a dental procedure.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs have won the past six meetings, including a 116-103 win at Toronto on Dec. 10.
2. The Raptors haven't won five straight on the road since Nov. 14-Dec. 1, 2002.
3. Spurs PF Tim Duncan is averaging 17 points and 12.2 rebounds over his last nine games with six straight double-doubles.