Oklahoma Thunder vs. Toronto Raptors Preview: Streaking Thunder Aims to Continue Winning Ways
The third-seeded Oklahoma Thunder are looking to carry on with their winning streak as they face the second-seeded Toronto Raptors, next.
Oklahoma and Toronto will be meeting each other for the second time this season on Monday, March 28th, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The first time both teams faced each other was early in the season, on November 4th.
In the said game, the Raptors managed to keep their then unbeaten 5-0 record with a final score of 103-98. It was guard DeMar DeRozan who provided the heroics, helping his team get through an eight-point deficit during the last six minutes of the game, dealing Oklahoma with their second-straight loss.
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The 26-year old professional basketball player ended the night for the Raptors with 28 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, shooting 7 out of 18 from the field, through 38 minutes of playing time.
For the Thunder, it was superstar Kevin Durant who was the main contributor, ending the night with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals, shooting 10 out of 18 from the field, through 37 minutes of playing time.
Both teams have so far been successful since they last faced each other. The Thunder is currently riding on a seven-game winning streak, defeating the likes of the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, and the Portland Trailblazers, to name a few.
The Raptors, on the other hand, are coming off a victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, with a final score of 115-91. They also won four of their last six games prior.
For his part, DeRozan says the remaining games matter more.
"We've got to understand the second half of the season is where it counts, where it matters, where we understand who we are and what we've got to do to win. Because it's not just for the season, it's for the postseason going in and understanding we've got to be a defensive team and have to get stops," he said in an NBA.com report.
The Thunder currently hold a record of 51-22, while the Raptors banner a win-loss slate of 49-23.
