The Raptors return home after a 2-week, 6-game West coast road trip. They went 3–3, losing to the Warriors, Suns and Spurs and beating the Jazz, Blazers and Lakers. Patrick Patterson missed the last 2 games with a strained knee. Lowry is coming off his worst game of the season in San Antonio. Not coincidentally, it was the Raptors’ worst loss of the season (110–82).

So the Jazz are looking for revenge. It took one of Lowry’s best games of the season to barely beat them in Utah, where he was doing ridiculous shit like this:

JV averaged 9.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg on the road trip. He was awful in all 3 losses. He matches up against Rudy Gobert, perhaps the best defensive center in the league, tonight. It’d be nice if coming home helped him bounce back.

The Raptors went 10–4 in December and Dwane Casey was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. The Raptors are 22–5 against teams with a worse record than them, which is most of the league. Against the 4 elite teams ahead of them (Cavs, Warriors, Spurs, Rockets), they are 1–6. Paul Millsap trade rumours are swirling around the team as the consensus is that they need to make a move to truly contend. Patterson’s absence has blown a huge hole in the team’s identity. 2-center lineups have been seeing more time. Bebe Nogueira replaces Pascal Siakam in the starting lineup tonight against the Jazz’s mammoth frontcourt of Gobert and Derrick Favors.

The Jazz are 22–14, just a couple of games behind than the Raptors. They signed veterans Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw to bolster their bench and are one of the deepest teams in the league. Gordon Hayward will be one of the most sought-after free agents in the league this summer. They traded for the underrated George Hill, who locked Lowry up in the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, he is out with a concussion. That should leave Lowry free reign to lead the Raptors to a W tonight.

End of Q1: Jazz 27, Raps 18

DeMar DeRozan was honoured with a video for becoming the Raps’ all-time leading scorer. He passed Chris Bosh during the road trip. He gets a standing ovation. Even Lowry claps for him. Kyle also sprained an ankle, but stays in the game. The Jazz are breaking them down and getting a great look after three or four passes. Gotta tighten up.

Halftime:

Joe Ingles, pick-and-roll ball handler, is something I was not ready for. Shockingly competent. Dwane Casey gets a round of applause for being Eastern Conference Coach of the Month. DeRozan finishes the half strong after getting smacked in the face by Joe Johnson. Gobert already has 10 rebounds and dunked on JV’s head. Lowry hit the locker room early to get some treatment. He comes out to warm up early and is draining shots. Good sign.

End of Q3: Jazz 73, Raps 71

We need Joe Johnson to smack DeRozan again. JV has battled Gobert well and has a double double. Lowry seems to be OK. Let’s get this done in the 4th.

Final:

After struggling most of the game, DeRozan hits a midrange fadeaway to give the Raps their first lead of the night. The place explodes. On the following Jazz possession Carroll steals the ball. DeRozan gets a dunk. Then Lowry blocks Mack and hits a 3 to put the Raps up 6 with 2:42 to play. The Jazz battle back but Lowry refuses to let the Raps lose. He finishes with 33 points. JV put up 18 & 13 in his best game in a long time.

During the game, word came that the Hawks have traded Kyle Korver to the Cavs for Mike Dunleavy Jr aka essentially nothing and a 2019 1st-round pick. Millsap should be next to move, possibly to Toronto.