MORE FROM Scott Rafferty

Pick a SG for post-80s dream team

What if you were tasked with building the perfect team, but with the catch that you didn't know the actual identities of the players you were picking from? We took some of the best players from the last three decades, lined up their stats and removed the names. Up next is the shooting guard position.

Scott Rafferty

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Pick a PG for post-80s dream team

What if you were tasked with building the perfect team, but with the catch that you didn't know the actual identities of the players you were picking from? We took some of the best players from the last three decades, lined up their stats and removed the names. Up first is the point guard position. Which player would you want to lead your team?

Scott Rafferty

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There's more to Paxson's game-winner than meets the eye

John Paxson was the hero of Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals, as his 3-pointer in the closing seconds helped the Bulls win their third straight title. However, Paxson's shot was as much about him as it was Jordan even though Jordan didn't get credited for doing anything on the play. Here's why.

Scott Rafferty

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The best one-on-one scorers right now

Who is the most efficient? Who is the most dominant? Who is the scariest? Let's take a closer look at the league's best one-on-one scorers from the 2019-20 season.

Scott Rafferty

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Quiz on latest 'Last Dance' episodes

How many All-Star teams did Dennis Rodman make? What year did Phil Jackson join the Bulls? What's one of the "Jordan Rules"? Take this quiz to test your knowledge from the latest episodes of "The Last Dance."

Carlan Gay

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None

The idea behind the Pistons' strategy was to limit Jordan the best they could by throwing different looks at him and being physical with him, all while daring his teammates to beat them.

Scott Rafferty

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What is the triangle offence?

The Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers ran the triangle during their championship runs in the 1990s and 2000s. What is the offence and what made it so special?

Scott Rafferty

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Rodman's dominance in one play

Dennis Rodman might be the greatest rebounder in NBA history despite being only 6-foot-7. How did he do it? Here's a close look at one possession from the 1997-98 season that tells you everything you need to know about his relentless rebounding prowess.

Scott Rafferty

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Did Nurse do enough to earn a perfect grade?

Last season, Nick Nurse led the Raptors to their first championship in franchise history. This season, he's proven to be one of the best — if not the best — head coach in the league. How much credit should he get for Toronto's success?

Scott Rafferty

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VanVleet speaks on uncertain free agency

"Best case scenario, no, I wouldn’t take a short-term deal, but obviously this is not the best case scenario for anybody," VanVleet said this week. "I’ll just say I’m flexible and I’m open."

Scott Rafferty

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Embiid flirts with quadruple-double vs. Lakers

In a 115-109 win over the Lakers, Embiid led the way with a near quadruple-double of 46 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks. Based on Game Score, it's the most productive game of his career to date.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors report card: Matt Thomas

Matt Thomas has proven to be one of the most accurate shooters in the league this season, but he still has a lot to prove if he's going to be a part of the rotation in the playoffs.

Scott Rafferty

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The incredible defensive versatility of Simmons

There are many ways to measure how valuable a player is defensively. For Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, his defensive versatility rate does all the talking.

Scott Rafferty

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Grading the most unique player on the Raptors

A high energy player off the bench who can guard every position on defence but play only one position on offence, Hollis-Jefferson has been the most unique player on the Raptors this season.

Scott Rafferty

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How good was Jordan in 1997-98?

It isn't considered to be one of his best seasons, but Michael Jordan was still a force in 1997-98, both in the regular season and playoffs. Ahead of "The Last Dance," let's take a closer look at what he accomplished in his final season with the Bulls.

Scott Rafferty

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Grading Powell's breakout season

Powell has missed almost a third of the season with injuries, but he's almost doubled his scoring average from last season without any drop off in efficiency. This is the player the Raptors hoped he'd become when they signed him to a four-year extension in 2017.

Scott Rafferty

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Iconic Raptors image wins sports photo of the year

Mark Blinch's iconic shot of Leonard watching the ball fall through the net claimed the top prize in the Sports, Singles category of this year's World Press Photo Contest.

Scott Rafferty

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Grading Ibaka's season

Ibaka has played a big role in Toronto's success this season, stepping up time and time again as Marc Gasol's replacement at centre in the starting lineup.

Scott Rafferty

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Pippen's defensive dominance in one play

In Game 3 of the 1998 Finals, the Bulls held the Jazz to just 54 points, the fewest ever in a Finals game. Perhaps the biggest reason why? Scottie Pippen's incredible defence. This one play showcases the Hall-of-Famer's otherworldly combination of speed, length, size and IQ which made him the perfect sidekick to Michael Jordan.

Scott Rafferty

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What went wrong for Raptors at end of Game 5

The Raptors led by six points with 3:28 to play in Game 5. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson then caught fire while Toronto's offence went ice cold, paving the way for the Warriors to force a Game 6.

Scott Rafferty

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Raps Rewind: Game 4 takeaways

After Game 4's huge road win in Oakland, the Raptors were one win away from winning their first NBA championship thanks to huge performances from Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka.

Scott Rafferty

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Favourites for HORSE Challenge

Thunder guard Chris Paul, WNBA legend Tamika Catchings and NBA legends Paul Pierce and Chauncey Billups are among the players hoping to upset Young.

Scott Rafferty

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This season's best HORSE shots

Itching for some NBA shot-making magic? With news that Zach LaVine, Trae Young and Chris Paul are among the player who will participate in the NBA HORSE Challenge, we pored through the archives to find the craziest HORSE shots from this season. Behind the backboard. Off the backboard. 360s. From halfcourt. From the logo. There's something for everyone so join us in reliving the best, most ridiculous shots from 2019-20.

Scott Rafferty

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Ibaka on free agency: 'Why leave?'

Ibaka is in the final year of his current contract with the Raptors, setting him up for unrestricted free agency. He's considered to be one of the best players available in free agency this offseason.

Scott Rafferty

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What's the deal with Doncic's 3-point shooting?

Doncic doesn't have the reputation of being a bad 3-point shooter, but he's been one of the worst — if not the worst — high volume 3-point shooters in the league this season. Is that a cause for concern for Doncic and the Mavericks or the rest of the league?

Scott Rafferty

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How Curry picked Raptors apart without touching the ball

Game 2 was yet another example of how Stephen Curry's value extends far beyond a traditional box score.

Scott Rafferty

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How VanVleet contained Curry in Game 1

Fred VanVleet received a lot of credit for making Stephen Curry work for his points in Game 1. How was he able to slow the two-time MVP down?

Scott Rafferty

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Redick gushes over Raptors defence

While talking about how much the NBA has changed over the decades on his podcast, JJ Redick explained what makes the Toronto Raptors special defensively, mentioning how they rotate "better than any team I've ever seen."

Scott Rafferty

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The genius of Toronto's D in one possession

There was one possession in Toronto's win over Philadelphia earlier this season that showed how the Raptors have been able to build the second-best defence in the league despite losing two elite defenders in Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green in the offseason.

Scott Rafferty

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Relive history: Raptors clinch first Finals appearance

The Raptors defeated the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Relive the instant reaction to Toronto's historic win.

Scott Rafferty

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Why the NBA had no answer for Stockton and Malone

We're taking this week to look at the greatest duos in NBA history on NBA.com. They might not go down as the greatest of all-time, but there aren't many duos as iconic as Stockton and Malone. Not only because they're two of the greatest players of all-time, but because they formed arguably the most feared pick-and-roll combo in league history.

Scott Rafferty

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Inside look at epic Game 3 win

While Sportsnet aired Game 3 of last season's Eastern Conference Finals between Milwaukee and Toronto, Raptors Player Development Coordinator John Bennett took over the team's Twitter account to answer questions from fans.

Scott Rafferty

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One stat: VanVleet's continued P&R growth

VanVleet has grown in a lot of ways since joining the Toronto Raptors, but perhaps the most important for his long-term development is the strides he's made as a pick-and-roll scorer. Let's take a closer look.

Scott Rafferty

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What were the Raptors keys ahead of Game 2?

Pascal Siakam got off to an aggressive start in Game 1 but cooled off in the second half. How could the Raptors get him back on track in Game 2?

Scott Rafferty

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Revisit four things to watch in Game 2 of Raptors-Bucks

Will Brook Lopez have a repeat performance? Can Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors get going from the perimeter? Will the Bucks continue to dominate the offensive glass?

Scott Rafferty

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Relive Raps title run: previewing Bucks series

The championship run continues! On Wednesday, TSN and Sportsnet will air Game 1 of Toronto's third-round series with Milwaukee from the 2019 NBA Playoffs. We've got you covered with a comprehensive preview to help set the stage for reliving the Eastern Conference Finals.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors, riddles and the Greek Freak

Kawhi Leonard's defence on the Greek Freak changed last season's Eastern Conference Finals. Would that same scheme work again on Antetokounmpo or has the reigning MVP since figured it out?

Scott Rafferty

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Highest scoring April Fools' Day performances

James Harden leads the way, followed by Kevin Martin, LeBron James, Michael Jordan and Kemba Walker, but which one had the best April Fools' Day game?

Scott Rafferty

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The biggest stats from Kawhi's historic Game 7

Including: Kawhi Leonard is the first player in NBA Playoffs history to make a game-winning buzzer-beater in a Game 7.

Scott Rafferty

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Four things to watch in Raptors-Sixers Game 7

Will the 76ers continue to dominate the offensive glass? Can the Raptors make open shots? Will someone other than Kawhi Leonard or Pascal Siakam step up for Toronto?

Scott Rafferty

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Biggest things to watch in Game 5

Game 5 of Toronto's second-round series with Philadelphia from last season's playoffs will air on Sportsnet on Sunday. Here's a look back at what we were keeping an eye out for heading into the matchup

Scott Rafferty

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Ibaka agrees with DeRozan on Lowry's GOAT status

"Everything he done here in Toronto for the team and now he won the NBA championship," Ibaka said about Lowry in response to DeRozan's claim. "He definitely is."

Scott Rafferty

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Biggest things to watch in Game 3

Game 3 of Toronto's second-round series with Philadelphia from last season's playoffs will air on Sportsnet on Friday. Here's a look back at what we were keeping an eye out for heading into the matchup.

Scott Rafferty

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How Embiid torched Gasol, Raptors in Game 3

After scoring 28 points in Games 1 and 2, Embiid exploded for 33 points in Game 3. How did he finally get himself going against Marc Gasol and the Raptors?

Scott Rafferty

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What to watch in Game 2 of Raptors-76ers

Can the Raptors keep the 76ers off the offensive glass? Can Marc Gasol continue to contain Joel Embiid? Will Philadelphia figure out an answer to its Kawhi Leonard problem?

Scott Rafferty

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Reliving biggest things to watch in Game 4

Game 4 of Toronto's first-round series with Orlando from last season's playoffs will air on TSN on Monday. Here's a look back at what we were keeping an eye out for heading into the matchup.

Scott Rafferty

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Lowry: Nurse yelled at Raps after Game 1 loss

"That was one of the like three times that whole season that [Nick Nurse] yelled at us," Lowry said on the "Winging It With Vince Carter" podcast last month. "He was like, 'D.J. Augustin looking like Allen Iverson!'"

Scott Rafferty

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Ibaka builds home gym to stay in shape

"I have to be home for 14 days, so for the next 14 days I can't go out," Ibaka said in a video. "In the meantime, I have to stay in shape, so I made my little gym here at my place."

Scott Rafferty

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Jefferson compares Carter to Curry

"What Steph did to the 3pt line you did to dunking," Jefferson wrote about Carter on Instagram. "You pushed every athlete to see what they could do. Spinning opposite way, arm in the rim, and you made the dunk contest cool again."

Scott Rafferty

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Evaluating Raptors potential first-round opponents

With about a month left in the regular season, the Toronto Raptors can start preparing to defend their title with another playoff run. There's plenty of basketball left to play, but as it stands now their most likely first-round opponent will be either the Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers or Indiana Pacers. Here's how the defending champs match up with all of them.

Scott Rafferty

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Golden State's transformation of Wiggins

Wiggins has only played in one game with Stephen Curry and has yet to take the floor with Klay Thompson, but the way in which he's changed his game since joining the Warriors bodes well for his future.

Scott Rafferty

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What we learned from third battle for LA

The Lakers and Clippers are ridiculous defensively, guards shouldn't challenge LeBron James at the rim, Paul George can still be the best player on the court and much more.

Scott Rafferty

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Preview: Raptors face hungry Kings team

The Sacramento Kings are fighting for their playoff lives. Following their win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, the Kings sit 3.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with 19 games remaining in their season.

Scott Rafferty

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Taking stock of the MVP race

Quite a lot has changed since the last time we checked in on the MVP race. The top two is the same, but there's a newcomer in the top-five and Russell Westbrook's emergence has impacted James Harden's MVP chances in a big way.

Scott Rafferty

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Seven thoughts: Tatum cools off as Celtics fall to Jazz

Mike Conley had one of his best games of the season, leading the Jazz with 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting from the field. Here's what we learned from the game.

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Nurkic to return next week

Nurkic has yet to play this season after sustaining compound fractures of his left tibia and fibula near the end of last season. Prior to his injury, Nurkic was averaging career-highs of 15.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

Scott Rafferty

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Clippers make statement with impressive Rockets win

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers to victory once again, this time with 25 points, six rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes of play. He should probably be getting some more MVP love.

Scott Rafferty

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Powell shines as Raptors clinch playoff spot

Powell finished with 37 points against the Warriors on 13-for-20 shooting from the field and 4-for-8 from 3-point range, marking a new career-high for the Raptors guard.

Scott Rafferty

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LeVert explodes for 51 in wild win

"That 50 was beautiful, Vert. Thank you for that masterpiece," Kevin Durant tweeted after the game.

Scott Rafferty

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Highest scoring quarters in NBA history

Caris LeVert's 26-point quarter against the Celtics was impressive, but he needed a few more to make the history books.

Scott Rafferty

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Six thoughts: Hornets shock Raptors in Powell's return

After missing nine straight games with a fractured finger, Powell scored 22 points in 36 minutes of action. It wasn't enough, however, as the Raptors fell to the Hornets.

Scott Rafferty

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VanVleet, Ibaka, Gasol returns near?

According to Josh Lewenberg of TSN, Nick Nurse said following Toronto's loss to Charlotte that he hopes VanVleet, Ibaka and Gasol will return at some point on the team's upcoming road trip.

Scott Rafferty

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Powell to return vs. Hornets

Powell has missed the last nine games with a fractured finger. He's averaging a career-best 15.3 points per game on the season.

Scott Rafferty

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The most accomplished 21-year-old in basketball history?

Whether it's how many points he's scored or how many triple-doubles he's racked up, there aren't many players in NBA history who have done as much as the Slovenian guard before their 21st birthday. Throw in the smashing success overseas and he might just be the most accomplished 21-year-old in the history of the sport.

Scott Rafferty

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Is Siakam now a top-10 player?

For the third time this season, our NBA.com Global Staff joined forces to rank the best players in the league. At the start of the season, Raptors' forward Pascal Siakam didn't even crack the top 30. Has he done enough to crack the top 10?

Scott Rafferty

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The underappreciated beauty of Jokic's game

Is Jokic the most underappreciated player in the NBA right now? One recent play against the two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year shows why Jokic's combination of size, skill and IQ makes him a threat unlike anyone else in the entire league.

Scott Rafferty

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Doncic ties Kidd in Mavs record books

There's a huge gap between Doncic and Kidd at the top. Michael Finley has the third-most triple-doubles in Mavericks history with six, followed by Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Aguirre, Dennis Smith and Antoine Walker.

Scott Rafferty

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Embiid leaves with shoulder sprain

Embiid has been Philadelphia's leading scorer this season 23.8 points per game. He's also leading the team in rebounding (12.0) and blocks (1.4).

Scott Rafferty

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The Bucks are unstoppable ... or are they?

They might win 70 games. They might finish with the best scoring margin in NBA history. They have a 25-year-old reigning MVP who is likely going to win it again. So why aren't the Bucks prohibitive favourites to win it all?

Scott Rafferty

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Can Raptors close the gap between them and Bucks?

This is the second meeting between the Raptors and Bucks this season. The Bucks won the first, led by a monster 36-point, 15-rebound double-double from Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Scott Rafferty

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One stat. One question. Every Raptor.

With just 27 games left in the regular season, the Raptors are ready for the sprint to the finish. To help gear up for the homestretch, we put each player in the rotation under the microscope and highlighted one key stat to consider and one major question to answer moving forward.

Scott Rafferty

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The genius of Wade in one play

If you could pick just one play to articulate D-Wade's greatness, what would it be? Here's one under-the-radar example of what makes Wade one of the greatest shooting guards of all-time and why his jersey is set to hang forever from the rafters in Miami.

Scott Rafferty

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Preview: Raptors vs. Suns

Toronto's first game back from the All-Star break is against Phoenix. The Suns have a losing record on the season, but they'll be hungry for a win to keep their playoff dreams alive.

Scott Rafferty

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VanVleet: 'We're going for the one seed'

The Raptors trail the Bucks by 6.5 games in the Eastern Conference standings with less than 30 games remaining. They can still make up that ground, but it certainly won't be easy.

Scott Rafferty

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Fact or fiction for Wiggins and the Warriors

Will the Warriors turn Wiggins into an All-Star? Can he be a better version of Harrison Barnes? Two members of our NBA.com Staff play a game of Fact or Fiction for the new-look Warriors.

Scott Rafferty

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Can Raptors hold on to No. 2 seed?

The Raptors enter the final stretch of the regular season with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. What does the remaining schedule say about the homestretch? Three games against the Bucks, four sets of back-to-backs and head-to-head tiebreakers reveals an uneasy truth: it won't be easy.

Scott Rafferty

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Jackson plans to sign with Clippers, reports say

Jackson has dealt with injuries this season, resulting in him playing in only 14 games, but he gives the Clippers another playmaker off the bench if he can remain healthy.

Scott Rafferty

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Lowry shines in most Lowry way

Lowry finished the 2020 NBA All-Star Game with 13 points, eight assists and five rebounds, but it was what he did defensively that will be remembered because it set the tone for what turned out to be a highly competitive fourth quarter between Team LeBron and Team Giannis.

Scott Rafferty

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The key to Tatum's All-Star rise

The knock on Tatum coming into this season was his shot selection. It's clearly something he took to heart because he's completely changed his shot profile for the better.

Scott Rafferty

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Don't sleep on Zion's passing ability

As much attention as Williamson gets for his high-flying dunks, he's starting to show that there's a lot more to his game. Case in point? In addition to setting a new career-high with 31 points against the Blazers this week, he tied his career-high with five assists.

Scott Rafferty

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NBA announces Lillard replacement

Booker is averaging 26.4 points, 6.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game on 49.6 percent shooting from the field and 35.8 percent from 3-point range this season.

Scott Rafferty

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Lowry: 'We were walking zombies'

Kyle Lowry recorded his second triple-double of the season with 12 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Raptors to keep their franchise-best winning streak alive.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam's superstar growth in one play

Pascal Siakam enters All-Star weekend on the heels of draining a career-high six 3s earlier in the week. Here's how one of those in particular showcased his startling evolution as a scorer and playmaker.

Scott Rafferty

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Preview: Raps go for 16 in a row

This is the fourth and final regular season meeting between the Raptors and Nets. The Raptors won the previous three games by an average margin of 9.3 points.

Scott Rafferty

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Five stats to know from the streak

From how dominant the Raptors have been offensively over the last 15 games to when the next time they're projected to lose.

Scott Rafferty

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Notable players being bought out or waived

Isaiah Thomas and Marvin Williams are among the players reportedly available on the buyout and free agency market now that the trade deadline has come and gone.

Scott Rafferty

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Why Clippers adding Morris could swing LA battle

Marcus Morris is having a career year with an average of 19.6 points per game, but it's what he's capable of doing on the other end of the floor that could give the Clippers the edge over the Lakers in a series.

Scott Rafferty

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Preview: Raptors vs. Nets

This is the third of four meetings between the Raptors and Nets this season. The Raptors won the first two, defeating the Nets on Dec. 14 by eight points and Jan. 4 by 19 points.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam calls Davis 'special' following Pacers win

Siakam's comments come after Toronto's win over Indiana, a game in which Davis scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Raptors extend their franchise record to 13 straight wins.

Scott Rafferty

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Can Warriors unlock Wiggins' full potential?

The Warriors made one of the biggest moves at the trade deadline in acquiring Andrew Wiggins from the Timberwolves for D'Angelo Russell. Did the Warriors make a mistake or is there a path towards Wiggins becoming the missing piece of their revival?

Scott Rafferty

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Preview: Raptors look to extend franchise record

In Wednesday's win over the Pacers, the Raptors set a franchise record with 12 consecutive wins. Can they make it 13 on Friday?

Scott Rafferty

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Analysis of the biggest trade deadline deals

The 2020 NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone. Here is some instant analysis on the day's biggest reported deals.

Scott Rafferty

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Players react to the trade deadline

"Wig about to thrive in golden state," Zach LaVine tweeted after news broke that the Warriors are acquiring Andrew Wiggins. "That’s a great fit."

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Knicks to hire Rose as next president

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Tuesday that the Knicks were parting ways with team president Steve Mills.

Scott Rafferty

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All-Star Mock Draft

Two of our writers drafted for Team LeBron and Team Giannis and we have to say ... one can only hope the actual All-Star teams are this crazy.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors set franchise record with thrilling win

The Raptors have now won 12 straight games, setting a new franchise record. Here are some quick thoughts from a wild game.

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Heat acquire Iguodala

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski added that Iguodala has agreed to a two-year, $30 million extension with the Heat.

Scott Rafferty

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NBA players react to reported Iguodala trade

Dwyane Wade, CJ McCollum and Jared Dudley are among those who took to Twitter to react to the report that the Grizzlies have traded Iguodala to the Heat.

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Brooks agrees to $35 million extension

The Mississauga native is averaging 16.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game this season.

Scott Rafferty

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Will Raptors be next team to make big trade?

Are Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry untouchable? Will Serge Ibaka and/or Marc Gasol be moved? What does Fred VanVleet's future look like in Toronto? The Raptors have some big questions to answer in the days leading up to the trade deadline.

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Knicks targeting Ujiri to run franchise

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that the Knicks are reportedly parting ways with team president Steve Mills, adding that the franchise has Raptors president Masai Ujiri in mind to "ultimately oversee New York’s operations." Ujiri is under contract with the Raptors through 2020-21.

Scott Rafferty

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Do Raptors make sense for Capela?

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets are "actively discussing" trade scenarios involving Capela ahead of the trade deadline. Which teams make sense for the 25-year-old?

Scott Rafferty

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Players reportedly available for trade

This season's trade deadline is quickly approaching. Here are some of the players who are reportedly available ahead of Feb. 6.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors tie franchise record

In defeating the Bulls on Sunday, the Raptors recorded their 12th-straight victory. They're now one win away from breaking the franchise record.

Scott Rafferty

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Davis responds to not making Rising Stars team

"This isn’t my first time not being selected for something but I guess it’s easy going undrafted to playing quality mins on a championship team," Davis tweeted after not being named a Rising Star.

Scott Rafferty

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The ridiculousness of Zion

Williamson is averaging 27.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per 36 minutes through five games in his NBA career. The hype is real, folks.

Scott Rafferty

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Powell out indefinitely

Powell suffered the injury in Toronto's win over Detroit on Friday. He's averaging a career-best 15.3 points per game this season.

Scott Rafferty

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Seven thoughts: Siakam dominates as Raptors win 10th straight

Siakam came out on fire and finished with a game-high 30 points to lead the Raptors to their 10th straight victory. Here are some thoughts from the game.

Scott Rafferty

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Nurse to coach Team Giannis

Nurse joins Dwane Casey as the only head coaches in franchise history to represent the Raptors at the All-Star Game.

Scott Rafferty

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Can Raps make it 10 straight?

On the second night of a back-to-back, can the Toronto Raptors extend their season-long win streak to 10 games? In their way stands Derrick Rose and the Detroit Pistons.

Scott Rafferty

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Barrett to retire 'Maple Mamba' nickname

A native of Toronto, Ontario, Barrett was given the nickname during his one and only season at Duke. He says he's always loved Bryant's mentality and that he tries to play with the same intensity.

Scott Rafferty

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Lowry not being All-Star is 'unfathomable'

Lowry is averaging 19.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists on a Raptors team that currently has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. He's looking to make his sixth straight All-Star appearance.

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Dinwiddie changing number for Kobe

Bryant is "by far" Dinwiddie's favourite player of all time, prompting the Nets guard to change his jersey number from 8 to 26 following the 18-time All-Star's shocking death.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors look to keep streak alive vs. DeRozan, Spurs

Since their loss to the Spurs two weeks ago, the Raptors have won six straight games. Will their streak continue or will DeMar DeRozan continue to have success against his former team?

Scott Rafferty

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The key to LeBron's climb up the scoring list

When LeBron James first came into the league, his jump shot was seen as his greatest weakness. It took him a while to turn it into a strength, but it helped him reach his peak and prolong his career, to the point where he's still among the league's leading scorers at age 35.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam says he's still finding his rhythm

A groin injury sidelined Siakam for 11 games between the end of December and the start of January. He had his highest scoring game since returning from injury on Friday, finishing with 23 points in a win over the Knicks.

Scott Rafferty

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Embiid reacts to Siakam being named All-Star starter

"Two guys from Cameroon," Embiid said about him and Siakam being named starters for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. "We barely started playing basketball eight or nine years ago, so to see us, especially as starters, it means a lot."

Scott Rafferty

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Eight thoughts: Is Siakam's 3-point shot back?

One day after being named an All-Star for the first time in his career, Pascal Siakam stepped up with 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists to help the Raptors record their sixth straight win.

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Mavericks trade for Cauley-Stein

Cauley-Stein is averaging 7.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game so far this season. He has the potential to complement Luka Doncic well on offence as a screener and roller.

Scott Rafferty

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Zion already has superstar-like gravity

Even before he went off in the fourth quarter of his debut on Wednesday, Zion Williamson showed signs of his superstar potential in more subtle ways. Here is one example.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam on own potential: "We thinking MVP, we thinking All-Star"

Siakam wasn't expected to be an All-Star when he was selected 27th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, but he has an opportunity to hear his name called alongside the likes of LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard on Thursday when the starters for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game are announced.

Scott Rafferty

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Are you ready for Zion's debut?

Zion Williamson is finally ready to make his long-awaited regular season debut. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft stole the show in preseason with 23.3 points per game on 71 percent shooting from the field. But how sustainable is that four game showing, especially after undergoing surgery on his knee?

Scott Rafferty

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Powell catches fire in comeback win over Hawks

It wasn't pretty, but thanks to a huge fourth quarter from Norman Powell, the Raptors came back to defeat the Hawks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here are some takeaways from the game.

Scott Rafferty

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VanVleet shines in return, helps Raptors overcome Wiggins triple-double

Fred VanVleet returned following a five-game absence to score a game-high 29 points on 7-for-8 shooting from 3-point range. He helped the Raptors overcome a triple-double from Andrew Wiggins, the first of his career.

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Raptors looking to 'add talent'

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Toronto is "out there in the market place trying to add talent" ahead of this season's trade deadline, which is two and a half weeks away.

Scott Rafferty

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Can Raps get it done on 2nd night of a back-to-back?

The Raptors take on the Timberwolves in Minnesota with both teams being on the second night of a back-to-back. This is the first of two meetings between the teams this season.

Scott Rafferty

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Gasol has 'a little bounce back,' says Nurse

Gasol set a new season-high with 20 points in Toronto's win over Washington. The big man did so while draining six of his seven 3-point attempts.

Scott Rafferty

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Nine thoughts: Gasol turns back the clock in commanding win

Marc Gasol stole the show in Toronto's 140-111 win over Washington by setting a season-high with 20 points and tying his career-high with six made 3-pointers.

Scott Rafferty

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The secret to CP3's resurgence

Last season appeared to be the start of a sharp decline for Chris Paul, but the nine-time All-Star is back to his Point God ways. Here's how he's been able to do it.

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Murray expected to miss 'multiple' games

Murray suffered an injury with 1:32 to play in the second quarter, turning his ankle after landing on the foot of Hornets guard Terry Rozier on Wednesday. He had to be helped off of the court by his teammates.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam surpasses Embiid in All-Star voting

Pascal Siakam now has the second-most votes among frontcourt players in the Eastern Conference, surpassing Joel Embiid.

Scott Rafferty

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Doncic's absurd vision in one possession

Doncic dished out a career-best 17 assists against the Kings on Wednesday. One of those assists serves as a perfect example of his other-worldly vision.

Scott Rafferty

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DeRozan joins David Robinson in Spurs record books

DeRozan has now scored 25-plus points on 50 percent shooting in seven straight games, tying him with David Robinson for the longest such streak in franchise history. To say he's been on a roll lately would be an understatement.

Scott Rafferty

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Morant continues to prove doubters wrong

The biggest criticism of Morant coming into the NBA? His jump shot. It's still early in his career, but his biggest weakness is quickly turning into a strength — something the Rockets learned the hard way.

Scott Rafferty

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Jazz inch closer to franchise record

Having won 10 straight games, the Jazz are now five wins away from tying the longest streak in franchise history. What are the odds of them breaking that record?

Scott Rafferty

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Kyrie returns vs. Hawks

Irving has been sidelined since Nov. 16 with a right shoulder impingement. Prior to the injury, he was averaging career-highs of 28.5 points, 7.2 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Scott Rafferty

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Lowry speaks on DeRozan's lasting impact

Lowry spoke to the media ahead of DeRozan's return to Toronto on Sunday. It will be the second time DeRozan has played against his former team in Toronto since last season's blockbuster trade.

Scott Rafferty

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Harden makes history with 20,000th point

Harden scored the 20,000th career point of his career in the first half of Houston's matchup with Minnesota. Only six players have reached that figure at a younger age.

Scott Rafferty

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8 thoughts: DeRozan's 36 not enough vs. Grizzlies

DeMar DeRozan continued his strong play with 36 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, but Ja Morant's 22-point, 14-assist double-double powered the Grizzlies to victory.

Scott Rafferty

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What has and hasn't changed in second fan vote returns

Pascal Siakam remains in the top-three in Eastern Conference frontcourt voting despite having missed 11 straight games due to injury. However, he and Kyle Lowry are no longer the only Raptors on the fan vote returns.

Scott Rafferty

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Who should start in the All-Star Game?

Can Pascal Siakam stave off Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler? That's just one of the key questions in a hotly contested race to start the 2020 All-Star Game. Here's how one member of our NBA.com staff filled out his ballot.

Scott Rafferty

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Nurse on Davis: 'I believe in the kid'

Nurse was critical of the rookie following Toronto's loss to Portland, but Davis responded in a big way against the Hornets, scoring 23 points and pulling down 11 rebounds in the first start of his career.

Scott Rafferty

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Is Houston's Westbrook gamble paying off?

The Rockets took a gamble in the offseason when they traded Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook. How is the gamble paying off? It's early, but Westbrook is taking the steps needed to make his latest partnership with James Harden work.

Scott Rafferty

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Oladipo targeting end of January for return

Oladipo has been sidelined since Jan. 23, 2019 with a ruptured quad tendon. He said that his return is going to be a "very, very emotional night."

Scott Rafferty

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Will Raptors bounce back against Hornets?

Following a tough loss to the Trail Blazers, the Raptors travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets. Can the short-handed Raptors bounce back on the second night of a back-to-back?

Scott Rafferty

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Griffin undergoes knee procedure

Griffin has appeared in only 18 games this season. He's averaging 15.5 points and 4.7 rebounds on 35.2 percent shooting from the field, all of which are the lowest marks of his career.

Scott Rafferty

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Trade destinations for Drummond

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons have talked to several teams about trading Andre Drummond ahead of this season's trade deadline. Which teams make the most sense for the two-time All-Star?

Scott Rafferty

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This is how the 76ers can unleash Ben Simmons

There have been glimpses of Ben Simmons looking unstoppable in the half court. 76ers coach Brett Brown recently talked about his ability and mentioned one specific skill that might unleash a version of Simmons that we have yet to consistently see.

Scott Rafferty

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Takeaways from the first fan vote returns

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam are among the leading vote-getters in the first fan vote returns.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors look to open 2020 with a win

Led by Jimmy Butler's triple-double, the Heat defeated the Raptors in overtime in the first meeting between the two teams this season. Without Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell and Marc Gasol, can the Raptors avenge that loss?

Scott Rafferty

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Will Siakam be Toronto's only All-Star this season?

Pascal Siakam is a lock to make the All-Star this season, but Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry are both making a case for themselves. Of the three, which ones are the most likely to be voted in by either the fans, media, players or coaches?

Scott Rafferty

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Seven thoughts from a dominant Raptors win

The month of December has been a struggle for OG Anunoby, but he got back on track in Toronto's win over Cleveland with 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Scott Rafferty

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Report: Zion could make debut in January

The Pelicans announced on Oct. 21 that Williamson underwent arthroscopic surgery to address a torn right lateral meniscus. The original timetable for his return was estimated to be six-to-eight weeks.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam, Gasol, Powell still 'a ways away'

Nurse provided an update of sorts prior to the team's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on New Year's Eve. Siakam, Gasol and Powell each suffered injuries in Toronto's win over Detroit on Dec. 18.

Scott Rafferty

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Which teams should trade for Dedmon?

Dedmon has confirmed that he would like to be traded from the Kings. Which teams make the most sense for the 30-year-old centre?

Scott Rafferty

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Eight thoughts from an impressive Raptors win

Kyle Lowry stole the show with 30 points in Toronto's win over Boston, but the Raptors had a number of players step up in the victory, including Oshae Brissett, who has spent most of this season in the G League with the Raptors 905.

Scott Rafferty

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The decisive factors in Lakers-Clippers

Who will guard LeBron James? Will the Lakers go big when the Clippers go small? What does Paul George's return mean? Here are the biggest storylines going into the Christmas Day matchup between the Clippers and Lakers.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors have no answer for Brown, Celtics

Jaylen Brown was spectacular in the win, scoring 30 points on only 13 shot attempts. He led the Celtics in scoring, followed by Kemba Walker.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors react to historic win

The Raptors outscored the Mavericks 47-21 in the fourth quarter to complete a 30-point comeback, the largest in franchise history. Lowry stole the show, but he credited the likes of Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson after the game for kickstarting the run.

Scott Rafferty

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Nurse 'never seen' anything like Lowry's fourth quarter

The Mavericks had a 99.9 percent chance of winning the game entering the fourth quarter. Kyle Lowry then took matters into his own hands by sparking the largest comeback in franchise history.

Scott Rafferty

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Do Raptors have an answer for Porzingis?

Kristaps Porzingis has stepped up in a big way in Luka Doncic's absence with four straight 20-10 games. Without Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol, do the Raptors have an answer for the sharpshooting big man?

Scott Rafferty

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Should Raptors trade for Holiday?

According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, Holiday is no longer untouchable. Which teams make sense for the one-time All-Star?

Scott Rafferty

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Harden makes history with another 40-point game

The only players in NBA history with more 40-point games than Harden are Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

Scott Rafferty

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Dinwiddie adds to All-Star case

The Nets are now 12-6 this season in games Spencer Dinwiddie has started at point guard. His averages in those games? 26.1 points, 7.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds.

Scott Rafferty

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Nine thoughts from a thrilling Raptors win

Without Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell and Marc Gasol, the Raptors held off Bradley Bradley Beal and the Wizards thanks to a team performance that saw six players score in double figures.

Scott Rafferty

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Love reacts to Morant's epic dunk attempt

In jumping over Kevin Love, many were quick to compare Morant's attempt to Vince Carter's iconic dunk over Frederic Weis. Fortunately for Love, Morant's dunk didn't end in the same way Carter's did.

Scott Rafferty

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VanVleet to return vs. Wizards

It's some good news for the Raptors after finding out that Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell and Marc Gasol will each miss extended time with injuries.

Scott Rafferty

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Checking in on the wild MVP race

Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, James Harden and Luka Doncic are each having historic seasons, but which one would be the league's MVP if the season were to end today?

Scott Rafferty

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Should Powell continue to start when VanVleet returns?

Norman Powell has been starting in place of the injured Fred VanVleet in Toronto's last four games. His averages in those games? 22.5 points and 4.3 rebounds on 61.4 percent shooting from the field and 50.0 percent from 3-point range.

Scott Rafferty

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Trade destinations for Kevin Love

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavaliers are ready to listen to trade offers for Kevin Love. Which teams make sense for the five-time All-Star?

Scott Rafferty

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LeBron has brought Cavs' playbook to Lakers

The 3-pointer Anthony Davis hit late in the Lakers' win over the Heat? It came on a set former Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue used to run for LeBron James and Kevin Love when they were teammates in Cleveland. Here's why it's so effective.

Scott Rafferty

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Why Dec. 15 is an important date

This season's trade deadline is still a couple of months away, but there's a reason why you might start hearing more trade rumours starting next week.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam critical of himself following Raptors win

Siakam had a monster double-double, but he struggled with efficiency in the second half when he shot only 2-for-13 from the field.

Scott Rafferty

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Streaking Bucks have real shot at history

The Bucks have now won 18 games in a row. How long can they keep this streak alive? The Mavericks, Lakers, Pacers and 76ers will have a big say in it in the coming weeks.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam's double-double powers Raptors to victory

The Raptors got contributions from a number of other players. Whereas Norman Powell scored 25 points, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka both had double-doubles.

Scott Rafferty

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All-Star moment: Harden drops 50 — again

Harden followed up his 55-point performance against the Cavaliers with a 54-point outburst against the Magic. He's now averaging 39.3 points per game on the season.

Scott Rafferty

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Kawhi's return sets ratings record

The previous record was set on opening night of this season when the Raptors received their championship rings.

Scott Rafferty

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Ring ceremony 'meant a lot' to Kawhi

Leonard didn't make a speech during the pregame ceremony, but Rivers said afterwards that the reception he received from the Raptors and the team's fans was "very heartfelt" and "meant a lot to him."

Scott Rafferty

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Kawhi not surprised by Siakam's growth

Pascal Siakam has struggled in his last five games, but he's still averaging career-highs of 24.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists as Toronto's No. 1 option this season.

Scott Rafferty

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Kawhi talks decision to leave Raptors

In leaving the Raptors for the Clippers in the offseason, Kawhi Leonard made history by becoming the first player in NBA history to join a new team in free agency after winning Finals MVP.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam reveals hardest player to guard and more in AMA

Ahead of Toronto's matchup with the Clippers on Wednesday, Pascal Siakam held an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit. Here's some of what the Raptors forward had to say.

Scott Rafferty

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Can the Raptors shut down Kawhi again?

Kawhi Leonard had his worst game of the season when the Clippers played the Raptors earlier this season. Can Toronto slow him down again or will the addition of Paul George change how the Raptors defend the two-time Finals MVP?

Scott Rafferty

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Will Raptors end losing streak?

Toronto held Joel Embiid scoreless in the first meeting between the two teams this season. Will Marc Gasol and the Raptors continue to be his kryptonite or will the two-time All-Star finally crack the code?

Scott Rafferty

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Kawhi talks upcoming return to Toronto

On Wednesday, Kawhi Leonard will play in Toronto for the first time as a member of the Clippers. Here's what the two-time Finals MVP had to say leading up to his return.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors' defence on Harden 'an interesting experiment'

The Raptors held Harden to his second-lowest scoring game of the season, but Houston made Toronto pay for aggressively doubling him by making 22 3-pointers.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam among favourites in new MVP poll

With almost a quarter of the season in the books, ESPN asked 101 media members who they would vote for MVP right now. Pascal Siakam ranked fifth, ahead of Kawhi Leonard, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler.

Scott Rafferty

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Jimmy Butler spoils Lowry's return

It was a tough game for Toronto's stars, as Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry combined to score 46 points on 12-for-48 shooting from the field.

Scott Rafferty

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Lowry not worried after shooting 2-for-18

Lowry scored 12 points on 2-for-18 shooting from the field and 0-for-11 from 3-point range in his first game in nearly a month.

Scott Rafferty

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Will defensive-minded Jazz end Raptors streak?

Following their win over the Magic, the Raptors are now sole owners of the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. The Jazz enter Sunday's contest having split their last eight games.

Scott Rafferty

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Raptors different team when Powell steps up

Powell has scored 16 or more points in 36 games in his NBA career. Toronto's record in those games? 27-9. They've been even more dominant when he scores 20-plus points.

Scott Rafferty

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Doncic can get even better. Here's how.

There's one thing that Luka Doncic already does better than almost everyone. The catch? He rarely does it. This is the secret to the second-year star taking the next step on his pathway to superstardom.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam has become an entirely new player — again

Could Pascal Siakam become the first player in NBA history to win multiple MIP awards? Him averaging career-highs across the board makes it a possibility, but it's how he's getting those numbers that will fuel his case.

Scott Rafferty

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Thomas could miss four weeks

In addition to Thomas, Patrick McCaw, Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, Stanley Johnson and Dewan Hernandez each missed Monday's game against the 76ers.

Scott Rafferty

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Embiid praises Raptors defence: 'They're everywhere'

For the first time in his NBA career, Joel Embiid failed to score a single point. The Raptors held the two-time All-Star scoreless on 0-for-11 shooting from the field.

Scott Rafferty

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VanVleet, Siakam combine for 49 points in Raptors win

Fred VanVleet set the tone for the Raptors with 24 points and eight assists in their win over the 76ers.

Scott Rafferty

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When is Lowry set to return?

The Raptors have been without Lowry since Nov. 8, when he fractured his left thumb in a win over the Pelicans.

Scott Rafferty

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Siakam shines in comeback win over Hawks

Siakam scored 22 of his 34 points in the second half to lead the Raptors in a comeback win over the Hawks. Toronto also got 25 points out of Fred VanVleet and 20 points out of Norman Powell.

Scott Rafferty

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NBA players react to LaVine's historic game

LaVine scored a career-high 49 points in a win over the Charlotte Hornets, doing so on 13-for-17 shooting from 3-point range.

Scott Rafferty

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League Pass Game of the Night

Short-lived as Butler's time with the 76ers was, he helped the franchise push the Raptors to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. On Saturday, he returns to Philadelphia for the first time since joining the Miami Heat.

Scott Rafferty

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Notable return games this season

Find out when some of the league's biggest stars return to play against their former teams this season.

Scott Rafferty

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