Raptors at Suns
The Toronto Raptors look to continue the best start in franchise history when they open a four-game road trip against the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Toronto's 7-1 start includes a 6-0 mark at home and it now faces a road swing that includes games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings.
The Raptors routed the Philadelphia 76ers 129-112 on Tuesday as offseason acquisition Kawhi Leonard tallied 31 points for his third 30-point effort in six games played. Point guard Kyle Lowry is meshing well with Leonard and recorded 10 or more assists in a personal-best six consecutive games. Phoenix is struggling with six straight losses and was annihilated 120-90 by the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. The Suns have already lost four games by 20 or more points and will likely be without star shooting guard Devin Booker (hamstring) for the fourth straight game.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), FS Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (7-1): Leonard is a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and he has been a difference maker, and he was the main reason why 76ers ballhander Ben Simmons committed 11 turnovers in Tuesday's game. "He can guard the ball, he can guard people coming off pin-downs, he can guard guys on the post, but mostly I think it's his natural instinct for getting his hands on stuff," Toronto coach Nick Nurse told reporters of Leonard. "The ball is popping around and, all of a sudden, boom, he comes out of there with it in any variety of ways." Center Jonas Valanciunas scored in double digits in six straight games and had a season-high 23 points in 17 minutes off the bench against Philadelphia.
ABOUT THE SUNS (1-6): Phoenix tallied just 15 first-quarter points and trailed by 21 at halftime against San Antonio in a game that wasn't competitive from the outset. "We're going to come back and we're going to learn and watch some film and get better," rookie forward Mikal Bridges told reporters afterward. "Just playing as a team, going out there and just fighting." The Suns allowed at least 117 points in each contest of the six-game slide while losing by an average of 20.7 points.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Raptors won last season's two meetings by an average of 9.5 points.
2. Toronto backup PG Fred VanVleet (toe) has missed four consecutive contests and is questionable for Friday's game.
3. Phoenix PG Isaiah Canaan (ankle) could miss his second straight game.