On Wednesday, Kawhi Leonard will miss his second game as a member of the LA Clippers due to load management. This is the second straight week he's sat out a Wednesday game as he missed last Wednesday's game against the Utah Jazz which was on the first night of a back-to-back. The Clippers lost that game by 14.
Just as it was last week, tonight's game against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks is on the first night of a back-to-back as the Clippers play host to the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
The Toronto Raptors know a thing or two about getting by without Leonard in the lineup. Before he went on to win Finals MVP on the backend of a historic postseason performance, Leonard and the Raptors took a cautious approach to the regular season as he missed 22 games, many of which for precautionary reasons as Leonard was in his first season back after appearing in just nine games the year prior while with the Spurs.
The Raptors didn't miss a beat without Leonard last season, going 17-5, which is actually better than the 41-19 record they posted with Leonard in the lineup.
Pascal Siakam was the team's leading scorer in games that Leonard missed, leading the way to the tune of 19.1 points per game while playing in 21 of those 22 games. That above all else could have foreshadowed Siakam's rise to stardom so far this season as he's taken on a leading role with Leonard now a member of the Clippers.
Who doesn't like a trip down memory lane?
Below, you can find every game that Leonard has missed last season along with the result and the Raptors' top performer.
Oct. 20 – Raptors 117, Wizards 113
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 28 points, 12 assists three rebounds
Oct. 29 – Bucks 124, Raptors 109
Who stepped up: Serge Ibaka – 30 points, nine rebounds
Nov. 4 – Raptors 121, Lakers 107
Who stepped up: Serge Ibaka – 34 points (15-for-17 FG), 10 rebounds
Nov. 5 – Raptors 124, Jazz 111
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 17 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds
Nov. 17 – Raptors 122, Bulls 83
Who stepped up: Fred VanVleet – 18 points, four rebounds, four assists
Nov. 21 – Raptors 124, Hawks 108
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 21 points, 17 assists, 12 rebounds
Dec. 11 – Raptors 123, Clippers 99
Who stepped up: Serge Ibaka – 25 points, nine rebounds, three blocks
Dec. 12 – Raptors 113, Warriors 93
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 23 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, three steals
Dec. 22 – 76ers 126, Raptors 101
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 20 points, six rebounds, five assists
Jan. 6 – Raptors 121, Pacers 105
Who stepped up: Norman Powell – 23 points (10-for-12 FG)
Jan. 17 – Raptors 111, Suns 109
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 16 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, two steals
Jan. 19 – Raptors 119, Grizzlies 90
Who stepped up: Danny Green – 24 points (8-for-12 3FG), six rebounds, three assists, two steals
Jan. 22 – Raptors 120, Kings 105
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 19 points, nine assists, four rebounds
Jan. 23 – Pacers 110, Raptors 106
Who stepped up: Serge Ibaka – 23 points, 11 rebounds, three assists
Feb. 7 – Raptors 119, Hawks 101
Who stepped up: Pascal Siakam – 33 points, 14 rebounds, four assists
Feb. 13 – Raptors 129, Wizards 120
Who stepped up: Pascal Siakam – 44 points, 10 rebounds
Feb. 24 – Magic 113, Raptors 98
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 19 points, 10 assists, four rebounds
March 3 – Pistons 112, Raptors 107 (OT)
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 35 points, six rebounds, five assists
March 10 – Raptors 125, Heat 104
Who stepped up: Kyle Lowry – 24 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds
March 18 — Raptors 128, Knicks 92
Who stepped up: Jeremy Lin –20 points, three rebounds, two assists
March 28 –– Raptors 117, Knicks 92
Who stepped up: Pascal Siakam – 31 points, five rebounds, five assists
March 30 –– Raptors 124, Bulls 101
Who stepped up: Fred VanVleet – 23 points, six assists, +30 plus-minus