Toronto Raptors start life without Kawhi Leonard as they prepare to play Houston Rockets in a pre-season scrimmage in Japan on Tuesday.
This will be the first game for Raptors in the pre-season, but the team had a grueling practice session as Nick Nurse put the squad through its paces in Quebec City, Canada. The 52-year-old, who won the Coach of the Year after he guided Raptors to their one and only NBA title win last season, will have his task cut out after Leonard’s departure for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Houston Rockets, meanwhile, already had one pre-season game behind them as they dispatched Los Angeles Clippers 96-109 just a few days ago.
James Harden dropped a game-high 37 points in just 28 minutes, while Clint Capela ended with a double-double 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Raptors and Rockets will play each other twice in Japan which will also be the first instance since 2003 that two NBA teams play in far-east.
MATCH DETAILS:
Match Timing: October 08, 2019, @ 03:30 PM IST
Venue – Saitama Super Arena
Capacity- 36,500 ————————————————————————————————————————
HOU vs TOR DREAM11 Team News:
Houston Rockets will go into the new season with a new-look roster.
Russel Westbrook joined James Harden in Houston with Chris Paul leaving for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
But Westbrook is still recovering from off-season surgery and will be assessed before the game. That said, Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said that he expects Westbrook to play in one game in Japan.
Thabo Sefolosha and Jaron Blossomgame are the new addition and the dupo will get some minutes here just as last time around.
In another deal, Ryan Anderson arrived in Houston with rookie guard William McDowell-White leaving the franchise.
Here is Houston Rockets squad:
James Harden, Jaron Blossomgame, Gerald Green, Isaiah Hartenstein, Clint Capela, Gary Clark, Chris Clemons, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, Danuel House, Ben McLemore, Austin Rivers, Anthony Bennett, P. J. Tucker, Shamorie Ponds, Michael Frazier, Thabo Sefolosha
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Toronto Raptors:
Kyle Lowry will miss the match due to a thumb injury, as per the reports.
Kawhi Leonard is no longer with Toronto Raptors but the team is still pretty much the same as last season.
Veteran players such as Marc Gasol and Kyle Lowry will be looking to become the fulcrum of the team’s cause.
Meanwhile, the hopes are that Padcal Siakam will be close to superstardom at the end of the 2019-20 season if the last few seasons are anything to go by.
OG Anunoby will also remain with the team following Raptors’ decision to exercise the club option.
Raptors squad for Japan tour:
Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Norman Powell, Fred VanVleet, Patrick McCaw, Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Matt Thomas, Terence Davis, Cameron Payne, Malcolm Miller, Chris Boucher, Oshae Brissett, Devin Robinson, Isaiah Taylor, Dewan Hernandez, Sagaba Konate
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HOU vs TOR Dream11 Playing Team (Probable 5) :
HOU: Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, James Harden, Danuel House, P. J. Tucker
TOR: OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol, Kyle Lowry, Norman Powell
CHI vs MIL Dream11 teams:
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CHI vs MIL Dream11 Predictions:
James Harden and Co should have enough for the reigning champions here.