NBA Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors

Toronto Raptors vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Game Preview, Prediction

Fresh Videos

By @TSturmRS

LA Lakers Team

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Raptors lead the NBA‘s Eastern Conference, but have received horrible news, as star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan is out indefinitely with a leg injury. DeRozan tore a tendon in his left groin, which means that the Raptors will have to continue forward without him.

Next up for the Raptors are the Los Angeles Lakers, who are coming off of a 120-119 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. At 3-13, the Lakers have looked awful to start the season, but have kept their last three games close, after being dominated 140-106 by the Dallas Mavericks.

The Raptors are clearly the better all around team in the matchup, but the absence of DeRozan is going to be crucial. The Lakers are ranked 30th in the NBA in points allowed per game, and the Raptors are ranked second in the NBA in points scored per game. Toronto has to have players step up and fill in for the 19.4 points per game the team loses with DeRozan’s absence.

Kobe Bryant and Nick Young are the two highlighted Lakers players for this game, but Jordan Hill will have to step up big. Hill has quietly had a very good season, but needs to step it up when it comes to finishing at the glass.

Expect a high-scoring game that comes down to whether Lou Williams and James Johnson can step into DeRozan’s role and have success. However, the Lakers haven’t proven yet this season that they can stop any team defensively, and I expect Toronto to pull out the win in this one.

Prediction: Raptors 114, Lakers 102

Taylor Sturm is a Featured Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on