What may have been for Raptors

A pivotal and fun two-week stretch ... if only

Some of the most anticipated games of the NBA season by Toronto Raptors fans were supposed to happen right about now.

Kitchener’s Jamal Murray and MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, one of the most mesmerizing big men to ever play the game, and the secondplace Denver Nuggets were scheduled to play at Toronto on Sunday. The Nuggets handed Toronto its only loss of a five-game road trip on March 1 so the rematch would have been mustwatch, especially with Toronto a lot closer to full strength.

Boston, the team battling Toronto for second in the East, was supposed to be here a few days before that game. A Sixers matchup was to be just before that.

Tuesday was supposed to bring LeBron James to Canada for the only time this season (besides a potential NBA Finals meeting).

Only four players have averaged more than the 28.2 points James has managed in 26 appearances at Toronto. And that doesn’t include his perennial playoff poundings of the Raptors. Plus former Raptors starter Danny Green was going to be feted for his contributions to last year’s squad while receiving his

BE SAFE AND PLEASE TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS.

championship ring before the Lakers game.

Finally, Mississauga native R.J. Barrett, who had been starting to break out after hitting the rookie wall before the season shut down, was going to welcome his hometown team to New York City Wednesday. A homeand-away reunion special at Memphis and then at home against Jonas Valanciunas and the Grizzlies would have been entertaining too. Not long after there was going to be two more games against league-leading Milwaukee.

Instead, we all wait for better times.

SIR CHARLES CLEAR

Charles Barkley says he does not have the novel coronavirus. He announced 10 days ago he was being tested and going into self-isolation after not feeling well.

“I’ve received my COVID-19 test results this morning and they are negative,” Barkley said in a statement. “I’d like to thank everyone for reaching out and expressing your concern and support. You all be safe and please take the necessary actions to help ensure your well-being.”

Barkley had been in New York, which has a huge amount of cases and had also spent time at spring training earlier in March with the Los Angeles Angels.