Like with the opener, I’m not gonna spend a ton of time here, because a) it’s the preseason, b) Matt brought you a full Gameday this morning, and c) there’s nothing to report. There was, however, an outpouring of love for the Canadian fanbase and a genuine feeling that the Toronto Raptors appreciate the opportunity to represent the entire country as they held media availability after shootaround in Calgary, a session that was attended by the Calgary Flames of the NHL.

“We understand that we’re playing for the country. We’re Canada’s team.” – @Klow7 ahead of our game in Calgary. pic.twitter.com/jWDPrPyVkV — Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 3, 2016

It’s my home away from home. I’ve got a lot of family here.” – @Cory_Joe on coming to Calgary. pic.twitter.com/EC7Nukek7g — Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 3, 2016

“We brag all the time about us being Canada’s team, and we are.” – Coach Casey. pic.twitter.com/DjwbfSP4Hs — Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 3, 2016



As always, I’m a big fan of the Raptors opening their camp each year by spreading their roots across the country, and it’s worked out as far as preseason success goes – they’re now 6-1 in Canada Series action. Now, can we get a quick trip out to St. John’s so I can expense a trip home next fall?

And hey, keeping with the Canadian content, Jamal Murray is on hand with the Denver Nuggets for some additional CanBall flavor. I kind of still can’t get over the fact that the 519 produced a basketball player, and I’m still waiting on my high school (Monsignor Doyle in Cambridge) to hang a banner that reads “once lost to the school that Jamal Murray eventually played at.” This will represent the preseason debut for Murray, and the NBA debut for any ballers from K-W, unless I’m drawing a blank on someone. (Shout out to Chelsea Aubry on the women’s side, though.)

The game tips off from Calgary at 9 p.m. (Eastern) on Sportsnet One/E/W/O.

Carroll and Sullinger sit

DeMarre Carroll will take the night off to rest given the team just played Saturday and he’s still working his way back to 100 percent. Jared Sullinger will also sit due to a sore left foot, which, since this is the first we’re hearing of it, probably isn’t a huge deal but is worth monitoring in the coming days (he’s expected back Wednesday, for what it’s worth). With seven preseason games and a three-in-five stretch, it was always likely some guys would sit a game or two, anyway, so no reason for alarm here.

Raptors updates

There are two potential approaches to figuring out the lineup for this one: Assume head coach Dwane Casey came out Saturday with a rotation he likes early on, and that he’ll tweak from that as a template, or believe that this early in camp, he’ll try some different things with three games in five days. As I wrote recapping Saturday’s game:

There may very well be tea leaves to read, and if you’re the type, it looks like Pascal Siakam is the early favorite for backup center minutes. He was terrific, bringing a ton of energy on the glass and in transition, and guarding well man-to-man (even lining up with Kevin Durant a few times) and in help scenarios. Casey’s substitute pattern also suggests Terrence Ross is ahead of Norman Powell in the pecking order for wings.

…

The earlier note about Casey potentially mixing things up game-by-game holds for those trying out for the 15th roster spot, too. Fred VanVleet saw extended run as the team’s third point guard, even working in two-guard sets, and acquitted himself quite well. He was flanked by an equally impressive Drew Crawford, who really infused the bench units with aggression guarding on the ball and pushing in transition. While both looked good, look for Brady Heslip, E.J. Singler, and Jarrod Uthoff to get significant run in the coming days.

The Nuggets represent a far bigger opponent than the Warriors, so if Siakam is once again in the 10th-man role (or ninth), that would be telling. My hunch is that VanVleet and Crawford, and Crawford in particular despite a stellar performance, play a limited role so the team can get a long look at the other names in camp. As a refresher, here’s how the minutes were distributed Saturday:

Known commodities: Lowry 20, DeRozan 21, Carroll 19, Valanciunas 15, Patterson 15, Joseph 15

Getting acclimated: Sullinger 23 (1st big off bench)

Competition 1: Siakam 21 (2nd big off bench), Poeltl 13, Nogueira 9

Competition 2: Powell 19, Ross 15 (but 1st wing up)

Competition 3: Crawford 15, VanVleet 14, Heslip/Singler/Uthoff/Moreira 0

Other: Caboclo 6, Wright 0 (injured)

Here’s a very rough guess at how things may go tonight, keeping in mind it’s a preseason game and all. The Raptors may opt to bring Patterson off the bench to keep rotations in tact, maybe starting Siakam or even Uthoff. Who knows, for half an hour?

PG: Kyle Lowry, Cory Joseph, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright

SG: DeMar DeRozan, Norman Powell, Brady Heslip, Drew Crawford

SF: Bruno Caboclo, Terrence Ross, E.J. Singler, DeMarre Carroll

PF: Patrick Patterson, Pascal Siakam, Jarrod Uthoff, Jared Sullinger

C: Jonas Valanciunas, Lucas Nogueira, Jakob Poeltl, Yanick Moreira

UPDATE: Caboclo (!!!!) and Patterson start. I can’t imagine the logic behind Caboclo starting beyond just getting him more reps and experience, and Patterson getting the nod makes sense in a game where the second unit’s flow doesn’t really matter. I’m surprised Powell isn’t drawing the start, though, and am curious who the first big off the bench is tonight.

Nuggets updates

This is the preseason opener for the Nuggets, so we’re forced to take some guesses at how they may distribute things. Here’s

PG: Emmanuel Mudiay, Jameer Nelson, Nate Wolters

SG: Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Malik Beasley, D.J. Kennedy

SF: Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Axel Toupane (!!), JaKarr Sampson

PF: Nikola Jokic, Kenneth Faried, Juan Hernangomez, Jarnell Stokes, Mike Miller, Robbie Hummel, Darrell Arthur

C: Jusuf Nurkic

I know that looks kind of weird, but the Nuggets will try out the Jurkic duo, and then they’ll likely play a significant part of the game (and their season) with one of Gallinari or Chandler at the four and only one true big (Jokic, Nurkic, or even Faried). This is the time for experimentation, and it would have been a fun test for Sullinger and Valanciunas in what would have been one hell of a tag-team hoss fight were Sullinger not sitting.

Assorted

Here’s a pretty great interview with new Raptors assistant coach Patrick Mutombo.

The line

The Raptors are 5-point favorites, which, sure! Cool! It’s a preseason point spread, I’m not going to look too much into it or bother betting on the game because so much is going to come down to how much each team plays their top guys and how well a bunch of unknowns play. I will make three predictions, though: Axel Toupane makes my heart hurt when he has a steal and transition dunk, Jamal Murray tries a three from five feet behind the line, and the Nurkic-Jokic duo lays out a Raptors guard with a double-team move than taunts the crowd, only for Siakam to rush in for the save.

As a reminder, the Raptors head to L.A. from here for a Wednesday road game against the Clippers, then take a few days off to regroup back at the BioSteel Centre in Toronto.