TODAY’S LEAD · NBA
The 6ix Report
# Raptors head to Denver after back-to-back defeats against Lakers and Magic.
Orlando Magic had beaten them 121-114 on October 30, reversing the result of a 129-99 Toronto victory over the same opponent two days earlier. The next scheduled assignment is away to Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena, a change of opponent after a run of high-scoring games.
The Lakers result was close enough to remain competitive on the scoreboard, but Toronto still conceded 131 points. Against Orlando, the Raptors scored 114 and lost by seven. The earlier 30-point win over the Magic demonstrates how widely outcomes have varied within a short span. Toronto also lost 117-94 to Minnesota Timberwolves on October 25. Those four games contain one victory and three defeats, with no simple trend toward greater defensive control.
Toronto are 3-3 in the Eastern Conference, with a .500 winning percentage and a two-game losing streak. Scottie Barnes leads the scoring figures at 24.8 points per game. RJ Barrett averages 19.8 and Immanuel Quickley 16.5, while Quickley contributes 6.2 assists per game. Jamal Shead is listed at 5.2 assists per game. Those are season averages, not the box scores from the Lakers game.
The team injury report lists Jakob Poeltl and Nate Bittle as out. No projected starting five follows from the report. Toronto's immediate need is visible in the results: the offense has scored at least 114 in three of the last four games, yet the team lost two of those three.
The latest Raptors injury report also includes Kawhi Leonard (F, out).
Denver host the Raptors at Ball Arena in the next NBA fixture, scheduled for November 4 on the schedule. Toronto will be trying to halt a two-game losing streak and return above .500. The recent games show enough scoring to remain competitive; the next result will indicate whether that scoring can be paired with fewer points allowed.
THE ANALYST’S DESK
# Can the Raptors defend well enough to support 119-point scoring?
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