Early clash for Barnes and Mobley
Raptors fans won’t have to wait too long before witnessing Scottie Barnes face off against Evan Mobley in a developing rivalry between two of the rising stars in the NBA.
According to the NBA schedule released Wednesday afternoon, the Raptors will open the season at home Oct. 19 against Mobley’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Barnes edged Mobley for the rookie of the year award last season, and many Cavaliers fans were upset with that result.
This will mark 11 straight seasons that the Raptors have held the opening game on their home court. The last time Toronto started a season on the road was 2011-12, a 10496 win in Cleveland on Dec. 26.
The Raptors will close the season at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 9.
Low mileage
The Raptors will play at home against the same opponent for two straight regular-season games, hosting Philadelphia on Oct. 26 and 28, after playing twice in three days against the Heat in Miami earlier in the week.
The league has tried to reduce the travel time for teams this season. There are 55 instances of teams playing consecutive road games against the same opponent, and 33 instances of teams playing two games in a row against the two teams from Los Angeles or New York.
Add it all up and NBA teams will combine to fly about 80,000 fewer kilometres this season, according to the league.
Back-to-backs
While the league has been trying to reduce the number of back-to-back games to avoid instances of players taking time off, the Raptors will play on consecutive days 12 times this season, starting Oct. 21 and against Brooklyn and Miami. That’s two fewer back-to-backs than last season.
Longest road stretch
The Raptors will play their longest stretch on the road in a seven-game Western swing that starts Jan. 25 in Sacramento and ends Feb. 5 in Memphis. That run includes backto-back games in Golden State on Jan. 27 and Portland the next day.
The schedule includes two fivegame road trips, including one in early March when the Raptors will play two games against Washington before flying to Denver and Los Angeles to face the Nuggets, Lakers and Clippers.
The Raptors’ longest home stretch will be six games, starting Jan. 4 against the Bucks and ending Jan. 14 against the Atlanta Hawks.
Another Christmas break
The Raptors won’t be part of the NBA’s five-game Christmas lineup of five games, which likely won’t come as a surprise to fans. Toronto has only played two Christmas games — in 2001, during the Vince Carter era, and after winning the 2019 NBA championship.
The Raptors also have no game scheduled on New Year’s Day.
Home dates to circle
■ Franchise icon Kyle Lowry and his Miami Heat visit on March 28.
■ DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls play at Scotiabank Arena on Nov. 6 and Feb. 28, while Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell and the Clippers will be in town on Dec. 27.
■ Kevin Durant, whose trade demands have dominated the NBA summer news cycle, will play in Toronto on Nov. 23 — if he’s still on the Brooklyn Nets roster by then.
■ LeBron James, playing in his 20th season, and the Lakers visit Dec. 7.
■ Splash brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and the champion Golden State Warriors are in town Dec. 18.