Tip-Off: 8:30 PM CT
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: ESPN, Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
Happy Nick Collison Day! Tonight is the night where former Oklahoma City Thunder power forward, all-time fan favorite, Mr. Thunder himself Nick Collison gets his jersey hung in the rafters. Regardless of who is supposed to be in attendance, tonight’s pregame activities are all about Collison. Then, there is a basketball game to be played.
The Thunder got off to a hot start on Monday as they hosted the Miami Heat, but a 13-0 run to begin the game dwindled away, and the Heat took over to win the game 116-107.
Tonight, the Thunder hosts Eastern Conference powerhouse the Toronto Raptors. Due to a scheduling quirk, the Thunder and the Raptors play in consecutive games. The first one is in OKC tonight, and then they will play on Friday in Toronto.
The Raptors are 3 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the top spot in the East, but they are still a force to be reckoned with. All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard has settled in nicely with his new team, and though he may not stay beyond this season, he is focused while he is there. All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry is questionable after spraining his ankle, which could be an advantage for Russell Westbrook and the Thunder.
No matter who is healthy and playing, the Thunder are sliding in the playoff picture, and they cannot afford to continue with this run of losses. It is expected that the Thunder and the Raptors will trade wins at home, but OKC would obviously like to win both. Before they can do that, they have to start by protecting home court tonight.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Terrance Ferguson
- SF: Paul George
- PF: Jerami Grant
- C: Steven Adams
Raptors
- PG: Fred VanVleet
- SG: Danny Green
- SF: Kawhi Leonard
- PF: Pascal Siakim
- C: Marc Gasol
Injuries
Thunder
- Nerlens Noel (left quad contusion) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon) is OUT.
Heat
- Kyle Lowry (sprained right ankle) is OUT.
Head to Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 12-7 against the Raptors in the regular season (6-4 at home, 6-3 on the road).
- In 10 seasons, the Thunder has won the season series with the Raptors 4 times, lost it once, and tied it 5 times.
- The Thunder went 2-0 against the Raptors last season (1-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 4 out of the last 5 overall against the Raptors but just 1 of the last 3 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Game Notes
- The Thunder has lost 3 games in a row while the Raptors defeated the New York Knicks on Monday.
- The Thunder is 4-6 in the last 10 games while the Raptors are 6-4 in the last 10.
- Oklahoma City is 23-11 at home while Toronto is 21-14 on the road.
- Oklahoma City is 17-8 against the Eastern Conference while Toronto is 20-7 against the Western Conference.
- The Thunder is 24-18 after one day of rest while the Raptors are 28-14 in the same situation.
- The Thunder is 8-1 (3-0 at home, 5-1 on the road) on Wednesdays while the Raptors are 9-3 (5-1 at home, 4-2 on the road).
- The Thunder is 4-6 (2-2 at home, 2-4 on the road) in March while the Raptors are 5-4 (3-1 at home, 2-3 on the road).
- The Thunder is 5-9 (3-4 at home, 2-5 on the road) since the All-Star Break while the Raptors are 7-5 (5-2 at home, 2-3 on the road).
- Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes
- Toronto Raptors Official Game Notes
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