The Toronto Raptors are set to face the red-hot Los Angeles Clippers Friday night at home in Scotiabank Arena. LA, which is 11-2 in its last 13 games, has seen a healthy Kawhi Leonard take the league by storm once again, as he has averaged 32.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game on roughly 51/44/92 shooting splits in that stretch (via StatMuse). 

The Finals MVP for Toronto in 2019 has played in 60 games or more in just one of his first six seasons with the Clippers. Since the six-time All-Star departed Toronto, the Raptors have made the playoffs just twice and are now amid a three-year playoff drought. 

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard

© Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue had a significant quote about the former No. 15 pick in the 2011 Draft regarding the impressive stretch. 

“The mode he’s in right now, it’s like coaching Kawhi in the playoffs,” said Lue. “He gets to the playoffs, he goes to the next level. Ever since that Laker game, I thought he’s going to that next level. Every single night, willing us through. It’s been huge for us as far as winning games.”

Leonard has officially been ruled out with an ankle injury heading into the matchup, which marks his first missed game since November, when he sat out 10 games due to an unrelated ankle and foot sprain. In his absence, center Ivica Zubac is questionable with an ankle injury after missing their last game, and John Collins is questionable with a groin injury. 

Neither team will be 100% in this contest, though, as the Raptors will be without RJ Barrett (ankle), Jakob Poeltl (back), and Jamison Battle (ankle). In addition to these injuries, Immanuel Quickley is listed as questionable with a back injury after missing their last game. 

The important aspects of the Clippers to note include pace, rebounding, and efficiency. LA is ranked 29th in pace (98.6) and 30th in rebounds per game (48.6), but these statistics become irrelevant due to its incredible shooting efficiency. The Clippers rank eighth in effective field goal percentage (55.4%) and fourth in true shooting percentage (60.0%).

Because the Clippers shoot the ball so well from every level, they don’t have as many rebounding opportunities. Similarly, because their half-court offense is so consistently effective, they don’t need to push the pace and capitalize on transition scoring. 

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden

© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

For the Raptors to beat the Clippers Friday night, the focus should be targeted around attacking the glass and pushing the pace. While neither is necessarily a strong suit for the Raptors (22nd in pace (101.3) and 20th in rebounds per game (52.3)), LA is simply not youthful or healthy enough to emphasize transition defense or grabbing offensive rebounds. 

If the Raptors can force the Clippers to consistently take tough shots, grab the rebounds, and push the pace in transition, they will have a great chance to hand LA its third loss in 14 games.