 missed his seventh consecutive game and F Nick Young (right calf) sat out his second straight contest. . F Julius Randle played his 100th NBA game Friday night. He has 39 double-doubles over that span. . Williams has made a free throw in 29 straight games, the longest active streak for a Lakers bench player. Raptors: Usual starting F DeMarre Carroll was rested in the opening game of Toronto's first back-to-back home games since the 2008-09 season as the Raptors continue to exercise caution after Carroll's knee surgery late last season. Norman Powell started in his place. . DeRozan's six assists extended his career-long streak with at least four assists to 11 games. . Lowry has made multiple 3-pointers in 10 straight games, tied for the longest such streak of his career. KERR-AZY VOTERSDespite leading the Lakers to a surprising 10-10 record over the first month of the season, Los Angeles coach Luke Walton was passed over for Western Conference coach of the month in favor of his former boss, Steve Kerr of 16-2 Golden State.'' I'm furious that Steve Kerr won coach of the month,'' Walton said jokingly. ''No, I'm happy for him obviously. It doesn't matter to me who wins coach of the month. We're trying to do something that's bigger than individual awards.'' DOMINATING FROM DOWNTOWNThe Raptors, who shot 41.4 percent from 3-point range, had double-digit 3-pointers (12) for the fifth straight game. Lowry led the way with six, and in his last four games is shooting 71 percent (20 of 28) from beyond the arc. MOVING ON UPDeRozan's six field goals saw him pass Vince Carter (3,536) for second on the franchise's all-time list. Chris Bosh leads the way with 3,614. UP NEXTLakers: Will look to end a five-game losing streak in Memphis when they face the Grizzlies on Saturday. Raptors: Aiming for sixth straight win when they host Atlanta on Saturday.)
Time: 07:30 P.M. EST Venue: Air Canada Centre TORONTO -- After the Toronto Raptors were pushed to the limit before defeating the depleted Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, coach Dwane Casey is urging his team to put up a "defensive presence" from the start of their game Friday against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. If the Raptors were caught underestimating a Grizzlies team that was hit by absences to key players, they plan to be ready for the Lakers, who are coming off a 96-90 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday." They're playing well right now with a lot of confidence," Casey said of the Lakers on Thursday. "A very talented offensive team." "Our guys have proven that when their backs are against the wall they can step up for a challenge," Lakers coach Luke Walton said. "They did it (Wednesday night). That's a great win against a very good team. Held them to I think 35 percent from the field shooting, which is all we talked about pregame, was defense. That's it. Defense. If you're committed to the defensive end on basketball, you always give yourself a chance." Both teams are in the middle of busy schedules. The Lakers (10-10) are playing their third game in four nights during a stretch in which they will play four games in five days, all on the road. The Raptors (12-6) are playing the second in stretch of three games in four nights, all at home as they enjoy a six-game homestand. Los Angeles will be without shooting guard Nick Young, who suffered a strained right calf muscle in the loss to the Pelicans in New Orleans on Tuesday. He will be out from two to four weeks. Young likely would have been guarding Toronto's top scorer, shooting guard DeMar DeRozan." We put Nick on the other team's best player a lot this year," Walton said. "And he's done a great job making them work. So it's not just the shooting we're going to miss. We're definitely going to miss his defense, the energy he brings. The confidence his teammates get when he hits good shots. We're going to miss a lot." Rookie Brandon Ingram played in Young's place in Chicago. Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell is expected to miss at least another week with a left-knee injury. The 120-105 score in the Raptors' win over the Grizzlies does not indicate the way the game played out. Memphis pulled within one point of Toronto with 9:10 to play before it began to miss shots and turn the ball over. The Raptors were given a boost by 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench by guard Cory Joseph as they won their fourth game in a row." I thought his energy rubbed off (on his teammates) late in the game," Casey said Thursday. "Because the first part of the game we were in a malaise as far as focus and energy. I think he came in a got us going. And Pat (Patrick Patterson, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds) came in and got us going ... with his defense and energy." Los Angeles brings familiar faces in former Raptors guards Jose Calderon and Lou Williams. Williams leads the Lakers in scoring at 16.7 points while DeRozan is averaging 28.9 to pace Toronto. The Raptors are 6-3 a home and Los Angeles 4-8 on the road.
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