RAP TORS NEED ` SWAGGER' BACK, LOWRY SAYS

The struggling Toronto Raptors open a four-game Western Conference swing Wednesday night at the Phoenix Suns, who are enjoying their best start since the 2009-10 season. The Raptors, the 2019 NBA champions, are 1-5 after losing to the Boston Celtics 126-114 Monday at their temporary home in Tampa, Fla. It is the Raptors' worst start since they lost their first nine games of the 2005-06 season. “We just need to get a little bit grittier, get a little bit tougher and a little bit nastier and have a little bit of a swagger to us,” said Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, who scored 18 points Monday. “Right now we have no swagger to us. We have nothing. There's nothing to us. Teams are looking at us like, `All right, let's go eat.'” The Suns are 5-2 after a 112-107 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday after trailing by 31 points. “We've got to get these guys playing to their capabilities,” said Raptors coach Nick Nurse, pictured. “I think they're better players than that, so we as coaches, and our leaders of our team, need to. ... get these guys together and get them playing.”