Raptors Beat Nets for 14th Straight Victory

After the Toronto Raptors won the NBA title last season, Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard departed for the Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard had been a playmaker for the Raptors and was a huge part of their success, so it was considered a reasonable assumption that Toronto would take a step back.

Of course, the Raptors were more than just one superstar last season. They are proving that this season without Leonard. On February 8th, Toronto held off a fourth quarter rally by the Brooklyn Nets for a 119-118 victory. It was the Raptors’ 14th straight victory, a franchise record. Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 29 points with Pascal Siakam and Terrence Davis each contributing 20.

Toronto improved to 39-14 and leads the Atlantic Division by a game and a half over the Boston Celtics through games of February 9th. More importantly, the Raptors are now second overall in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Milwaukee Bucks by 6 1/2 games. Last season, the Raptors finished second in the East on their way to the NBA Championship.