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Game Day: Raptors @ Lakers

Matt Tierney - Raptors.com

Time: (10pm ET, 7pm PT - NBATV Canada)

The Raptors get ready to round out their pre-season road trip tonight where they will face the Los Angeles Lakers in Ontario… California. Toronto is coming off a 95-87 loss to the Golden State Warriors in San Jose on Monday and they will be looking to get back into the win column before returning home for the first time in 11 days.

WHO’S HOT?

DeMarre Carroll - Brought in mainly for his defence, and after a solid debut against the Clippers on Sunday, Carroll showed off his offensive ability by putting up a game-high 15 points and connecting on 3 of 6 of his three-point attempts Monday night versus Golden State. He will look to stay hot tonight as well as being tasked with guarding Lakers forward Kobe Bryant.‎

Julius Randle - The athletic big man has been sidelined for a year after breaking his leg in the first game of last season. It’s been a long road back but the Lakers forward has already impressed in the first two games of preseason, “Julius is an animal. He’s the future of this team, the future face of the NBA. That boy can play,” said Lakers centre Roy Hibbert. Randle stuffed the stat sheet on Wednesday putting up 16pts, 5reb, 4ast & 3stl against the Jazz.

STAYING FOCUSED

‎ It seems like ages ago the Raptors kicked off their pre-season in Vancouver last Monday. Fatigue could become a factor and the coaching staff are trying to remind their players to stay focused.

“Today was a tough practice, a lot of distractions. It’s a different gym, a loud gym, your voice echoes but like I told the guys, you’re going to have gyms like that and you have to turn that focus on. We’ve got to get our focus back in training camp mode.” said Dwane Casey after practice at the UCLA gym on Wednesday.

Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan echoed his coach’s sentiments but knows teams go through these periods, “Things like that are going to happen. You’re never going to be perfect. You have to mess up to make corrections and today was one of those days. It’s a given you’re going to have days like this. We’re all human.”

L.A. BOYS

Normally, playing the Lakers means a home game for DeMar DeRozan, but the former USC player and Compton native returns once again to play for the visiting team as his Toronto Raptors will go head to head with the Los Angeles Lakers. A younger DeRozan may have worried about the pressure of playing at home in front of his family and friends however he is now a veteran on this team and his priorities have changed.

“Not like I used to, now i treat it like another game,” said DeRozan when asked about returning to LA. “It’s kind of different now when I come back home. I don’t really pay attention to all the tickets as long as my daughter and parents are at the game. That’s all that matters.”

One Los Angeles player who DeRozan always looks forward to seeing is Kobe Bryant. When asked about facing Bryant tomorrow, DeRozan responded, “For me going against him (Kobe) all these years, seeing him almost on his way out is definitely tough to see but it’s always fun going against players like that.”

DeRozan isn’t the only one who had some things to say about the Lakers All Star as Raptors rookie Norman Powell is relishing his chance at playing against Bryant for the first time in his young career.

“I’ve been a Laker fan growing up. Kobe is one of my favourite players of all time. I’ve watched him a lot. It’s going to be a great experience for me to potentially be on the same court as him. I’m going to go at him just like everybody else. It’s an opportunity to show what I can do. I’m definitely going to play with a chip on my shoulder.”

#WeTheNorth