Raptors tip-off preseason tonight, taking on Portland in Vancouver

BURNABY — Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard have been on the floor together for virtually every drill of this week’s Raptors training camp. And while time will tell if these are early days of a budding bromance, coach Nick Nurse said he’s at least seen a level of mutual respect between the two stars.

“Maybe they’re doing some shooting drills and Kawhi hits 19 out of 20, and Kyle is like ‘Man, I didn’t know you shot it that good,”’ Nurse said by way of example. “Kyle then goes and answers it by shooting 19-of-20 and Kawhi is like ‘I didn’t know you could shoot that good either.’

“It’s more of them just seeing what each guy has got in their package and maybe just acknowledging it more than anything right now.”

Lowry spoke to reporters Friday for the first time since Monday.

The four-time All-Star had finally talked at media day about DeMar DeRozan, his former teammate and good friend — and other half of the Raptors’ “bromance,” as it was often described — and promised he’d be all-business when camp opened.

Friday, Lowry grumbled when a reporter accidentally hit him with her microphone, swatting it away with his hand.

But he had kind words for Leonard, the former San Antonio superstar who the Raptors acquired for DeRozan.

“We’ve been in almost every group together. We have to be on the same page, I think we’re going to be on the same page,” said Lowry. “He’s a heck of a player and us being on the same page makes everything a lot easier and getting everyone else on the same page will come.

“We’re just trying to figure out where we want to be, let him know where we like it and he’s letting us know where he likes it.”

Lowry and Leonard will see their first official action together today when the Raptors open the preseason in Vancouver against the Portland Trail Blazers in a game that tips off at 4 p.m. PT.