Raptors host the Trail Blazers for cross-conference contest
Portland Trail Blazers (19-26, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (22-21, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Sunday, 6 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors host Norman Powell and the Portland Trail Blazers in non-conference action.
The Raptors are 12-11 in home games. Toronto is the Eastern Conference leader with 13.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Scottie Barnes averaging 2.8.
The Trail Blazers are 5-15 on the road. Portland is eighth in the Western Conference with 10.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Jusuf Nurkic averaging 2.7.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Nov. 16 the Trail Blazers won 118-113 led by 29 points from CJ McCollum, while OG Anunoby scored 29 points for the Raptors.
TOP PERFORMERS: VanVleet is shooting 42.4% and averaging 21.8 points for the Raptors. Anunoby is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Toronto.
Nurkic is averaging 14.3 points and 10.8 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Anfernee Simons is averaging 25.7 points over the last 10 games for Portland.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 6-4, averaging 106.4 points, 46.2 rebounds, 21.7 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.3 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 6-4, averaging 108.5 points, 43.6 rebounds, 22.4 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.3 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Khem Birch: out (nose), Goran Dragic: out (personal), Gary Trent Jr.: day to day (ankle), David Johnson: out (health and safety protocols).
Trail Blazers: Larry Nance Jr.: out (knee), Norman Powell: out (personal), Dennis Smith Jr.: day to day (ankle), Damian Lillard: out (abdominal), Cody Zeller: out (knee), Nassir Little: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
by The Associated Press
