Welcome back Pascal and welcome back Matt!

Although most of the hype this month is about the NFL and who is going to play on February 2nd, the NBA is still happening and there is a lot going on. Tonight the San Antonio Spurs were welcomed by the Toronto Raptors. If I could describe the vibe of this game in one word. It would be “lovely”. Mainly because of the DeRozan & the Raptor(s) connection. Before Demar was included in a package to the Spurs for Kawhi and Danny Green back in 2018, it was like watching the Brady Bunch. Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry were Carol and Mike.  Their relationship was one like no other that was showcased on and off the court.

This has been a crazy road trip for the Spurs. They started in Boston then Memphis and after Tororonto they will finish it in Miami. I wish I could finish my week in Miami.

Fun Fact: Back on the 2003-2004 season, DeRozan's combined 72 points bested Vince Carter's franchise record of 65 for the most points through the first two games of the season.

Pascal would start and put u 12 pts in his first seven minutes of play.. He would then go on to end the game with 21 pts & 14 reb. Chris Boucher, who celebrated his birthday on Saturday ended the 5-0 run that the Spurs had gone on and drained a three ball extending Toronto’s lead to 26-19. 

Toronto up 51-43 at the half. 

Raps go on a 9-0 run with six minutes to play in the 3rd quarter. A few moments later , Lowry takes a fall in the baseline but before getting up gives his little man a kiss on the cheek.

DeRozan hits a nifty eurostep through four Raptor defenders, gets in it plus the foul!  He didn't stop there! Next possession, he puts Chris Boucher on a poster then staring him down. Now I guess the refa are starting to be consistent and not tolerating that because he then picked up a tech for that staredown. DeRozan finished with a game high 25 pts & 8 reb.

Fun Fact: Demar is the only Spur to have 10+ pts in every game this season.

Coach Nurse would switch it up a little bit and bring on the subs giving them some playing time. I mean the Raps were up by 13 pts so I it seemed like a good time to get folks getting used to playing with one another. Mid-way through the fourth frame and that seemed like a big mistake by Coach Nick Nurse. San Antonio gets an extra pep in their step and  take the lead for the first time in the game. With only 6:49 to go, LaMarcus Aldridge hit a jumper making it 88-87.

At this point the starters had come back on to try and take care of business. Serge Ibaka, who led the Raptors in points tonight  got the crowd and the team going when he threw down a one handed jam bringing Toronto within one point.

Fast forward to the last two seconds of the game, the rock was in Pascal Siakam’s hand after grabbing his fifth rebound (15 pts, 5 reb) he brought it up the court looking to give Toronto their 26th win of the season.  He pulled up the arch and attempted a three ball but no luck. Toronto would come up one but no doubt lesson learned.

Toronto has a long rest before they head to play the hot Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday for an 8:00pm tip off. Keep an eye out for Canadian Shai Gilegeous-Alexander and vet Chris Paul as they are hungry for a postseason spot. Currently Toronto sits 4th in the East and OKC sits 7th in the West.

San Antonio 105-104 Toronto