They closed the week strong with a their second win over the Cavaliers and Tobias Harris - who has had his struggles in games this season - stepped up with 24 points on an efficient 12-for-14 shooting from the field. Full Match Replays Harris signed a five-year, $180 million extension this offseason and has posted similar numbers overall, but shooting 25.5% from beyond the arc has been an issue for a team that desperately needs perimeter scoring. We're yet to see him and two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard take the floor together, as Leonard has been nursing a sore left knee, but that debut is sure to come at some point this upcoming week.
Toronto was forced to play without Kyle Lowry (thumb) and Serge Ibaka (ankle) in all three games this week, while OG Anunoby suffered an eye contusion on the first play of the contest against the Clippers and missed the entire game against the Trail Blazers. Full Match Replays Fred VanVleet has stepped up in a big way with Lowry out of the lineup, averaging 22.8 points and 8.0 assists shooting 44.4% from the field and 40.6% from 3-point range in the last four games without their All-Star point guard and leader. Some variation of their role players - Norman Powell, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Chris Boucher, Matt Thomas or Terence Davis - have came through with quality games to make up for the lack of a consistent presence without Lowry or Ibaka.