Toronto Raptors vs. San Antonio Spurs: Game Preview, TV channel, start time

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Who's Playing?

Matchup: Toronto Raptors vs. San Antonio Spurs

Records: Raptors (25-13), Spurs (16-21)

Where to Watch

Date: Jan. 12, 2020

Time: 6:00 p.m. ET

TV: SN1 (Canada), League Pass (USA)

Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

Game Preview

This is the first meeting between the Raptors and Spurs this season.

Even with Kawhi Leonard moving on to the LA Clippers, this contest will always mean more than your typical regular season game. This time, it features DeMar DeRozan returning to Toronto for the first time since his former team won the NBA title.

DeRozan's return comes at a good time for him, as he is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Over San Antonio's last 10 games, DeRozan is averaging 27.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 63.8% (!) from the field. The four-time All-Star is on a tear and he's making a late push to earn his fifth All-Star bid of his career.

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DeRozan is fresh off of an impressive game against the Memphis Grizzlies where he went for a near-triple-double of 36 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, but the Spurs couldn't come away with the win. San Antonio's struggles are putting their 22-consecutive playoff appearance streak at risk, as their last loss moved them out of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

You can expect DeRozan to come out gunning against his former team to put his team back into the playoff picture.

MORE: The Spurs are playing DeRozan like Giannis – and it's working

As for the Raptors, they're coming off of a close win over the Charlotte Hornets in which undrafted rookie Terence Davis stole the show. He enjoyed arguably the best game of his young career, going for a team-high 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead the short-handed Raptors to victory.

It doesn't appear as though Toronto will be short-handed much longer — Norman Powell is expected to make his return in this contest. Marc Gasol (hamstring) and Pascal Siakam (groin) are both progressing in their rehab as well, both returning to practice this past Friday. Head coach Nick Nurse stated that he expects Siakam to make his return some time next week, whereas Gasol shouldn't be too far behind him.

The Raptors have been playing with a limited roster since Dec. 18 when they lost all three of the aforementioned players in the same game. They've managed to stay afloat in the time-being, going 6-5 in their 11 games played without the key rotation players.

With Siakam and Gasol's return on the horizon, can the Raptors pick up another much-needed win to hold them over until their two starters are back in the lineup?

Injury Report

Check back Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET for the first official injury report.

Game Notes

  • The Raptors and Spurs split the season-series last year at 1-1 in their first two meetings since swapping star players.
  • DeMar DeRozan recorded his first-career triple-double in his first meeting against his former team, going for 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in a win.
  • The Spurs currently hold the North American sports record for most consecutive playoff appearances at 22.
  • Serge Ibaka has recorded a double-double in seven-straight games, tying the longest streak of his career.

Last Time They Played

Date: Feb. 22, 2019

Score: Raptors 120, Spurs 117

Raptors: Kawhi Leonard – 25 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

Spurs: DeMar DeRozan – 23 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals

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Author(s)
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Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.