Toronto @ New Orleans preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2019 ) New Orleans 122, Toronto 130

The Toronto Raptors are 4-0 at home and look to carry their success on the road when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. The Raptors are just 1-2 away from home as they open a five-game road excursion against the Pelicans, who are 1-2 at home.

Point guard Kyle Lowry scored 24 points in Wednesday's 124-120 home win over the Sacramento Kings and tallied at least 20 in four straight games and six of the seven this season. While Toronto won't play at home again until Nov. 18, the Pelicans are starting a stretch in which five of seven are at home. New Orleans is allowing an NBA-worst 124.3 points per game and has given up 130 or more on three occasions, including Monday's 135-125 road loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The teams met in the season opener on Oct. 22 in Toronto with Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet each scoring 34 points - a career best for VanVleet - to guide the Raptors to a 130-122 overtime victory.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TSN (Toronto), FS New Orleans

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (5-2): Siakam recorded 23 points and 13 rebounds against Sacramento for his second double-double of the campaign. "We didn't win like we wanted to so that's all matters," Siakam said in reference of Toronto allowing the Kings to drain 20 3-pointers as well as score 30 or more points in each of the last three quarters. Veteran forward Serge Ibaka scored a season-best 21 points off the bench for his sixth double-digit outing of the season.

ABOUT THE PELICANS (1-6): Forward Brandon Ingram scored a career-best 40 points on 17-of-24 shooting against Brooklyn and he is averaging 25.9 points. The 22-year-old was acquired as part of the package in which Anthony Davis went to the Los Angeles Lakers and guard Jrue Holiday isn't the least bit surprised that Ingram is blossoming with New Orleans. "If he gets it anywhere in the post, anywhere in the mid-range, that's pretty much automatic," Holiday said of Ingram. "He's damn near 7-feet tall, so he's very, very tough to guard. If he's out on the perimeter, he usually has bigger guys on him so he's definitely got an advantage always."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Raptors have won eight of the past 10 meetings.

2. New Orleans SG JJ Redick is 8-of-14 from 3-point range over the past three games.

3. Toronto SG Patrick McCaw will miss at least one month after having surgery to remove a mass from the back of his left knee.

PREDICTION: Raptors 122, Pelicans 111