Suns at Raptors
The Toronto Raptors came up short on the road on the front end of a back-to-back set and hope to avoid a letdown when they host the lowly Phoenix Suns on Thursday. The Raptors held a late four-point lead on Wednesday before Eastern Conference-rival Boston closed with a 17-4 surge to post a 117-108 home win.
The late-game drought helped end a five-game winning streak for the Raptors, who were just 7-for-29 from 3-point range during the setback. Toronto also fell out of first place in the East as Milwaukee moved ahead with its win over Memphis. The Suns have lost eight of their last 10 games and fell to 4-17 on the road when they were walloped 131-97 by Indiana on Tuesday in the opener of their four-game road trip. Shooting guard Devin Booker (back spasms) returned from a three-game absence but scored only eight points in 27 minutes.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona (Phoenix), Sportsnet One (Toronto)
ABOUT THE SUNS (11-34): Phoenix all but rolled over from the outset against the Pacers as it was outscored 38-19 in the opening quarter en route to its 11th loss by 20 or more points this season. "We didn't show up," coach Igor Kokoskov told reporters after the contest. "We were down the entire game. In the second quarter, we played the way we were supposed to, but there is not much we can take from this game." Backup small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. has put together four consecutive solid performances, averaging 20.5 points during the stretch.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (33-13): Forward Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points against Boston and has recorded 20 straight 20-point efforts, three shy of the franchise mark Vince Carter twice accomplished. Leonard was 10-for-19 from the field against the Celtics but was scoreless down the stretch as Toronto struggled to get him the ball. "Giving 'Whi' some help," point guard Kyle Lowry told reporters about what the team needs to do better late in games. "A lot of things we've done is give Kawhi the ball and get out the way. He's that talented of a player, but we gotta help him."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Raptors have defeated the Suns three straight times, including a 107-98 road victory on Nov. 2.
2. Lowry is averaging just 8.7 points on 8-of-28 shooting over his last three contests.
3. Phoenix backup SG Jamal Crawford (knee) is questionable after missing the last three games.