The Toronto Raptors are back in action after a six-day layoff, as they travel to Miami riding a four-game losing streak to take on the Heat.
You can watch the Raptors battle the Heat LIVE on TSN4, streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN App, with coverage beginning at 7p.m. ET / 4p.m. PT.
The Raptors last played on Tuesday, when they were dismantled 117-101 by the New York Knicks in the first knockout round game of the NBA Cup.
That was the fourth consecutive loss for the upstart Raptors, and sixth in their past seven contests – all of which occurred in a busy span of 11 nights. The rest provided by the NBA Cup knockout stage was a much-needed one for the Raptors, as it turned out.
“Really important just to reset the mind, reset the body,” said Brandon Ingram after the loss to the Knicks.
“Look at these first 25, 26 games and see what we’ve done well, what we haven’t done so well, and just try to adjust and address it and try to be better at it.”
Injuries were part of the problem against the Knicks, as both starting guards (and former Knicks) RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were held out of that contest. Barrett continues to nurse a sprained knee and has already been ruled out for this game against Miami, while Quickley missed the game due to an illness.
Barrett ranks third on the team in scoring, averaging 19.4 points per game over 17 contests.
“Seven game in 11 days. We definitely need [the break]. We need to get healthy,” said point guard Jamal Shead after a career-high 18 points starting in place of Quickley. “RJ, Quick, just our entire team, we just need our bodies to get right.”
Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic preached the same message he has throughout the season after the loss to the Knicks. He viewed the defeat as a chance for the team to learn as they continue to grow in this season.
“It is hard (for young players to take on new roles) but that’s the job, you know,” said Rajakovic. “I think it’s a great learning opportunity for all of them. I thought that our spirit was great. I thought that we competed the whole game. We just played against a better team tonight.”
The Raptors get their first look at the Heat this season on Monday – a team that Toronto has dropped six of its last eight against.
