featured-image

Game Day: Raptors vs. Cavaliers

Matt Tierney - Raptors.com

Time: (7:30PM ET - TSN, TSN1050)

Home sweet home. The Raptors (9-6) return north of the border to take on the Cavaliers (11-3) on Drake Night at Air Canada Centre. Toronto finished their western road trip at 2-3 after dropping the first three. Cleveland comes to town on the back of three straight victories and sit atop the Eastern Conference standings.

WHO’S HOT?

LeBron James – He's LeBron James, need we say more?

Kyle Lowry – We have touched on Kyle Lowry’s offensive numbers numerous times this year. Season averages of 20 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds are impressive numbers but Lowry also has excelled on the defensive side of the floor and is the league leader in steals with just less than three per game. Additionally, over his past six games the Raps point guard has gone to the charity stripe 40 times and converted all 40 of his free throws. Lowry will be hoping to keep that streak going tonight versus the Cavs.

STREAKING THROUGH THE QUAD

Won five, lost three. Won two, lost three, won two.

Needless to say, it has been an up-and-down season so far for the Raptors. After a 5-0 start with impressive wins over the Mavericks and Thunder, the Raps seemed to be firmly on opposing teams' radar. Close losses followed to Orlando, Sacramento, Golden State and Utah, with Toronto holding the lead late in all of these games.

There seemed to be some tension building after those defeats however back-to-back victories in Los Angeles over the Lakers and Clippers should go some way to calming nerves. Raps fans can also take comfort in knowing eight of the next ten games will be played at Air Canada Centre.

First up is a duel with the defending Eastern Conference Champion Cavaliers tonight. The Raptors managed to only win one out of the four meetings between the two teams last year but that win was a convincing 17-point victory in Cleveland. Both teams will be without key starters tonight with Jonas Valanciunas, Kyrie Irving & Timofey Mozgov all unavailable due to injury.

On the topic of streaks, watch DeMarre Carroll’s first-half performance in a win over the Clippers on Sunday…

THE 6 GOD

Drake Night.

The Raptors will honour their Global Ambassador with the team’s annual Drake Night. Tonight’s game marks the third Drake Night – Dec. 17, 2014 vs. Brooklyn (W 105-89) and Jan. 11, 2014 vs. Brooklyn (W 96-80).

Toronto will wear black and gold uniforms tonight for the first time in team history. This is the fourth variation of the team’s new uniform worn during the 2015-16 season and the 16th different uniform the team has worn since the franchise was founded in 1995.

Inspired by Drake’s new single, there will be a custom built, “Hotline Bling Box" in the Galleria outside Air Canada Centre all day today. Fans are encouraged to come down and show off their best Drake dance impressions with the chance to be featured on our Social Media accounts.

Additionally for all fans in attendance, you will receive an OVO/Raptors inspired long sleeve shirt and sweatband as seen below…

#WeTheNorth