Lowry powers Raptors to torrid start
The Toronto Raptors are off to a torrid start at 7-1.
Stars Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry have led the way, with Lowry boosting his game significantly, a crucial early storyline given injuries to fellow point guards Delon Wright and Fred VanVleet that have limited the appearances of both players. Here are 10 things to ponder after Toronto’s big victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday:
1. Kyle Lowry is chasing down a bunch of Damon Stoudamire’s team records.
2. Lowry has six consecutive double-digit assist games. He’s averaging 11.1 assists a game, nearly three ahead of secondplace LeBron James.
3. Jonas Valanciunas said sometimes he can’t believe what forward Pascal Siakam is doing out there. “He’s playing with a lot of skills. He’s P- Skills. He’s handling the ball,” Valanciunas said.
4. Credit Raptors management for refusing to budge on Siakam in any trade talks during the offseason. He’s definitely a keeper.
5. Siakam on starting against fellow Cameroonian big man Joel Embiid: “It’s definitely an awesome moment, starting together.”
6. Toronto has won 12 straight against Philadelphia at home.
7. Sixers coach Brett Brown, a longtime San Antonio assistant, called Raptors guard Danny Green one of the all-time favourite players he has ever coached.
8. Valanciunas has led the bench in scoring in four of his five games as a reserve.
9. Valanciunas on Sixer Amir Johnson, still a fan favourite in Toronto: “He was my veteran when I was here as a young boy.”
10. The crowd at Scotiabank Arena was really good on Tuesday, getting loud and encouraging the Raptors whenever the club appeared to be in a dicey spot.