Canada welcomes the Oklahoma City Thunder for the first time since their championship and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP win. This welcome will be less emotional, given that… The local star continues to be out of form And he’ll miss the game in his home country. Which, on the other hand, gives the Raptors the chance to secure a valuable victory against the league leaders and stay in the hunt for the top seed in the East.

Date and time of Raptors vs Thunder

DateFebruary 24nd, early morning of the 25rd according to the European time zone.

TimeThese are the start times for Raptors vs Thunder based on time zone.

Spain (peninsular), France and Italy01:30Dominican Republic, USA (Boston, New York and Miami), Puerto Rico and Venezuela20:30Mexico (central), El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua18:30Mexico (Pacific) and USA (Los Angeles)19:30Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay21:30Colombia, Ecuador, USA (Chicago and Texas), Peru and Panama20:30

Headquarters: Scotiabak Arena (Toronto, Canada)

Starting lineups for Raptors vs Thunder

The Raptors lose Jakob Poeltl again to injury, but welcome back Scottie Barnes, who returns to the starting lineup. In OKC, on the other hand, the starting five is once again difficult to predict given the uncertainty surrounding the availability of Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso.

RaptorsThunderImmanuel quickleyCason WallaceRJ BarrettIsaiah joeBrandon IngramLuguentz dortScottie BarnesChet holmgrenCollin Murray BoylesIsaiah Hartenstein

Raptors vs Thunder: Best bet

OKC’s numerous injuries make Toronto the favorites. Rajakovic’s team has the physical resources to counter the Thunder’s aggressiveness and, given their own notable absences, more talent to prevail.

Raptors latest: injuries and form

The Raptors have found themselves with competition in the fight for the fourth seed in the East. With the apparent resurgence of the Cavaliers, the Canadians have been pushed out of the top seed position and are now obligated to respond if they don’t want to fall out of contention. And with two wins since returning from the All-Star break, they seem to have done just that.

Rajakovic’s team is coming off a dominant performance in Milwaukee and a comfortable win against the Bulls, but doubts remain about their ability to upset good teams. And while a depleted Thunder team might not fall into that category, they certainly seem like a good test for a team that usually overwhelms opponents who can’t match their level of aggression and intensity, but who struggle more when they can’t win in that manner.

Players to watch: Scottie Barnes

This level of intensity is largely driven by Scottie Barnes, who has established himself as one of the NBA’s best defenders. After missing the last game for personal reasons, the power forward is back on the court to once again lead his team on both ends of the floor in a matchup where he’ll have to be at his absolute best against Holmgren and Hartenstein.

Thunder latest: injuries and form

OKC is going through a strange phase of the season. With many key injuries, the defending champions have lost the aura of invincibility that surrounded them during the first weeks of competition and are beginning to see their first-place position in the West seriously threatened. Because the Spurs are closing in from behind, it could be difficult for OKC to secure wins with so many important players out.

Even so, the recent wins against Brooklyn and, especially, Cleveland have shown that this team can function even without Shai, Jalen Williams, and Mitchell. So, while no potential setbacks are likely to be a long-term concern in this context, they must avoid complacency if they want to hold onto their position in the standings and finish the regular season on a promising footing heading into the playoffs.

Players to watch: Jared McCain

McCain has hit the ground running with these Thunder. He arrived unexpectedly, found himself with a bigger role than anticipated due to Shai’s injury, and yet he seems like he’s been with the team for a long time. His strong performances after the All-Star break have confirmed his enormous potential to be a key player, and he’s undoubtedly one of the most interesting players to watch during this stretch of the season.

Raptors vs Thunder: Head-to-head history

The Raptors already defeated OKC in their January matchup, ending a four-game winning streak for Daigneault’s team. The Thunder also hold a 36-22 historical advantage in the head-to-head record.

Predictions for the Raptors vs Thunder game

Less than 220 points. Without their top scorers, OKC is forced to keep this game low-scoring if they want to win. Which, against a Raptors team also known for excelling on defense rather than offense, seems likely.

Less than 26 triples. In line with the above, neither team boasts a high three-point shooting percentage. The Thunder may rely more on this weapon without playmakers like Shai or Williams, but the Raptors are among the teams that force their opponents to shoot the worst three-point percentages.

+20 from Cason WallaceThe point guard is coming off an excellent game against the Cavaliers and will have to once again take on a great offensive responsibility to take his team as far as possible.

Where to watch Raptors vs Thunder

The game between Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder can be seen in Spain through… NBA League Pass subscription.