Thunder at Raptors
The Oklahoma City Thunder attempt to end a four-game losing streak when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Friday in the second contest of a home-and-home set between the teams. The Raptors blew a 20-point lead in Wednesday's tilt in Oklahoma City before recovering to post a 123-114 overtime victory.
Toronto trails the first-place Milwaukee Bucks by two games in the battle for the Eastern Conference's top seed and hopes to gain some ground with a three-game homestand that includes contests against the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls. The Raptors have won 18 of their past 21 home games and are a stellar 29-7 overall in front of the friendly fans. Oklahoma City is in a four-way tie for the fifth through eighth spots in the Western Conference but is fading with four straight setbacks and 10 in its past 14 games. "We've just got to get off to a better start," Thunder All-Star forward Paul George told reporters. "That's it. A better start. We close out well. We just put ourselves behind a lot of times. Just a better start."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Oklahoma, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Pacific (Toronto)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (42-30): All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook returned from a one-game suspension due to drawing his 16th technical foul and recorded 42 points, 11 rebounds and six assists against Toronto. Westbrook forced overtime with a layup with 4.8 seconds left as part of a 16-of-29 shooting effort in which he knocked down five 3-point baskets. George, who is averaging 28.2 points, tallied just 19 points before fouling out of the contest after averaging 30.3 over the previous four games.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (51-21): All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry (right ankle) will miss his second straight contest and fourth in the past five - a left ankle injury caused the previous two-game absence. Toronto coach Nick Nurse doesn't fear a long absence: "He's just sore. Nothing serious. They've checked it every way it can be checked," Nurse told reporters. All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday's game but forward Pascal Siakam was the biggest difference-maker with 33 points and 13 rebounds for his 16th double-double of the season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Raptors halted a three-game slide against the Thunder on Wednesday.
2. Oklahoma City PF Jerami Grant collected a career-best 14 rebounds on Wednesday but had just nine points on 3-of-14 shooting.
3. Toronto PG Fred VanVleet had 23 points while starting in place of Lowry and is averaging 17.7 points over the past three games.