Jay Satur - Raptors.com
The Raptors and Bulls square off at Air Canada Centre with the early lead in the Eastern Conference on the line (8 PM ET, TSN2, TNT, FAN 590).
This is a rare Thursday night matchup for the Raptors, who will appear coast to coast in both Canada and US with the NBA on TNT covering their first regular season game in Toronto since 2002. That's an eternity in pro sports, so thankfully The Starters have provided this primer to get everyone caught up. Sort of.
Projected Starting Lineups
Raptors: Kyle Lowry (G), DeMar DeRozan (G), Terrence Ross (F), Amir Johnson (F), Jonas Valanciunas (C)
Bulls: Derrick Rose (G), Jimmy Butler (G), Mike Dunleavy (F), Pau Gasol (F), Joakim Noah (C)
Injury Report
Raptors: Landry Fields - Flu-like symptoms (doubtful)
Bulls: Jimmy Butler - Left thumb sprain (probable), Derrick Rose - Both ankle sprains (probable)
Three Pointers
Raptors (Game Notes)
- Can the Raptors continue their hot start at home? They've built a 5-0 record at Air Canada Centre, but it's safe to say the Bulls represent the toughest test they've faced yet. A sixth straight home win would eclipse the 5-0 start from the 2003-04 season for a new franchise record. Since January 1st, 2014, the Raptors are 26-7 (.818) at Air Canada Centre. One of those losses? A a 94-92 decision to the Bulls on Feb. 19.
- Could be a milestone night for a couple of members of the Raptors tonight. Guard DeMar DeRozan needs four points to tie Andrea Bargnani (6,561) for third place on the Raptors’ all-time scoring list, while head coach Dwane Casey can tie Lenny Wilkens (113) for second on the Raptors all-time coaching victories list with a Raptors win tonight.
- Tonight's matchup features two of the best benches in the league. The Raptors' key five-man bench unit of Greivis Vasquez, Lou Williams, James Johnson, Patrick Patterson and Tyler Hansbrough radically shifted momentum in Tuesday's comeback win over the Magic. That group has accounted for 40 per cent of the Raptors' made three-pointers (27), rebounds (128), assists (59), steals (29) and blocks (16) this season. At least one member of the second unit has scored 10 or more points in each of the team's first eight games.
Bulls(Game Notes)
- The Raptors are going to be putting their unblemished home record on the line against a Bulls team that's been a perfect 4-0 on the road so far this season. On the Houston Rockets (5-0) have been better on the road as of Thursday.
- The Bulls were finally able to start a full healthy lineup in Monday's 102-91 home win over the Pistons. The starting five of Rose, Butler, Gasol, Dunleavy and Noah started together for the first time this season in the victory. "It was great to have everyone," Gasol said. "A full roster available and healthy. I hope we can keep it that way."
- Last season, the Bulls and Raptors were top 10 teams in terms of defensive efficiency. Very early on in 2014-15, these have been two of the league's better offensive teams. Toronto has scored at least 100 points in every game this season and has averaged 109.1 points per 100 possessions, good for third in the NBA. Chicago, which averaged 93.7 points per game last season, has hit triple digits six times through their first eight games and enters this game fifth in offensive efficiency (108.1).