Raptors at Bulls
The Toronto Raptors seek to defeat Chicago for the sixth straight time when they visit the Bulls on Saturday. Toronto arrives with a three-game losing streak that has followed its franchise-best 12-1 start and looks to regain its form against lowly Chicago.
The Raptors suffered a 123-116 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday and have allowed an average of 118.3 points during the slide. Star forward Kawhi Leonard continues to excel and had 31 points and a season-best 15 rebounds against Boston and he has topped 30 points on four occasions this season. Chicago is coming off a demoralizing loss in which it led by 18 at half before crumbling and falling 123-104 to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls were outscored 46-17 in the third quarter and gave up 78 second-half points while losing for the third straight game.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN (Toronto), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (12-4): Toronto was in position for a strong road win as it led by four points with 90 seconds left in regulation before losing the lead but still had the chance to win before Leonard's last-second jumper bounced off the rim. "The main thing is we're going to hold it until the very last shot so that nothing bad happens and they can't get a rebound and call a timeout," Raptors coach Nick Nurse told reporters. "It's just man on man and you hope your guy can make the basket and we have a lot of faith in him that he can." Leonard played a season-high 43 minutes against Boston and will likely be held out against the Bulls on the second part of the back-to-back.
ABOUT THE BULLS (4-12): Chicago's strong first-half play evaporated after the break as the Bucks scored at will and the Bulls wilted. "We lost them in transition on a few possessions," Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters. "And then we tried to get it all back on the other end. When they went on a run, we tried to get it back individually." Guard Zach LaVine had just 15 points against Milwaukee and is averaging 12.5 on 9-of-31 over the past two games after scoring 20 or more in each of the first 14 outings.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Raptors won last season's four meetings by an average of 13.8 points.
2. Chicago SG Justin Holiday set season highs of 20 points and six 3-pointers against the Bucks.
3. Toronto SF OG Anunoby (wrist) is questionable after departing Friday's loss.