Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Saturday NBA preview: Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls

Toronto: Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Jonas Valanciunas

Chicago: Ryan Arcidiacono, Wendell Carter Jr., Justin Holiday, Zach LaVine, Jabari Parker

KEY MATCHUP

Valanciunas/Carter Jr.

Carter Jr., drafted seventh overall and drawing comparisons to the Celtics’ Al Horford, was averaging more than 26 minutes and 11.5 points a game through Thursday. But it’s his defensive game that has everyone talking. It’s early, but he’s on pace to become just the second teenager in NBA history to average two blocks a game. He’ll likely see a lot of Valanciunas, the fifth pick in the 2011 draft, who was averaging a career-high 13.1 points in a career-low 19.4 minutes per game heading into Friday’s game in Boston.

NEED TO KNOW

Tough back-to-back for the Bulls, after facing the Bucks in Milwaukee on Friday night, while the Raptors played in Boston ... Chicago’s injury list is long: before welcoming the No.1 Raptors on Saturday. The injury list is long for Chicago: Bobby Portis (knee), Kris Dunn (knee) and Lauri Markkanen (elbow) are targeting December returns. Denzel Valentine (ankle) is out indefinitely … The Bulls had only scored 100 points once — a double-overtime win over the Knicks — in their last six games heading into Friday.

UP NEXT

Tuesday in Orlando, 7 p.m.

Laura Armstrong is a sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy