Fans get free look, Powell eases back
Hundreds of fans were treated to five quarters — yes, you read that right — of Raptors basketball on Sunday morning as the team held an open practice at Ryerson University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre.
It was the last chance for fans to catch a glimpse of the team in town before the regular-season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 17. The Raptors travel to Montreal and play the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday before heading to New Orleans for their final pre-season game on Thursday.
Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry — both rested for the Raptors’ lone pre-season home game on Friday against Melbourne United — earned the biggest roars as players were introduced Sunday.
“It’s our way of giving back,” Norm Powell said of the public practice.
“A lot of the time (fans) see us at a distance, but to have events like this, it’s really good for us to interact with the fans. I know the guys really like it and they look forward to it.” POWELL RESTS: Powell left the game against Melbourne with a bruised right thigh and didn’t participate in Sunday’s scrimmage. The forward, who led the Raptors with 21 points despite exiting in the third quarter on Friday, was optimistic about returning soon.
“I just went to set a screen, a split screen on the post,” Powell said. “And then when I went to split, the guy was just trying to fight over it and kneed me in my quad. It’s just a little bruise. I should be fine.” ROSTER UPDATE: Head coach Nick Nurse said he is “not a lot closer” to finalizing the roster, which can include two extra players on two-way contracts that allow them to play in the NBA plus Raptors 905 of the G League. “We’ve got Jordan Loyd at one of the two-way spots, and the other one is still up for grabs,” Nurse said. “I would imagine it’s Chris (Boucher) and Eric (Moreland)’s battle … Deng Adel has made a big step forward here. He’s got himself in the picture.” The rotation Nurse uses Wednesday night in Montreal will shed more light on how that battle plays out. LEONARD’S ASSISTS: Asked what coaching Leonard has been like, Nurse — entering his first season as head coach — called the small forward a “tremendous leader” and a “really good teammate” outside of his talents on the court. “He’s gone to certain players and pulled them into the group a little bit,” Nurse said of the former Spurs all-star. “He’s shared some of his knowledge. He’s shared some of his workout times. He likes to work out on his own, but every now and then he’ll bring a guy and say, ‘Come with me to my workout time so we can work together.’ Just little things like that.” ANUNOBY RETURNS: O.G. Anunoby, away from the team since late September for personal reasons, was scheduled to rejoin the team some time Sunday and travel to Montreal for the mid-week game.