The consistently dominant Toronto Raptors will kick off 2019 at home to entertain the consistently inconsistent Utah Jazz.
When the Toronto Raptors made the shocking trade to bring Kawhii Leonard north of the border, this is what they had in mind — a consistently dominant team that has the potential to bring an NBA title to Canada.
The Utah Jazz, on the other hand, was not expecting to be where they are right now after a remarkable playoff run in 2018, sitting below .500 in a Western Conference that has grown stronger this season.
Now, to open 2019, the struggling Jazz will look to finally gain some consistency in the winning department as they head to Toronto to face the NBA-leading Raptors on New Year’s Day.
The Raptors (27-11) are the top team in the league and led by superstar Leonard and All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry, as well as a slew of role players who have taken a leap in play this season, Toronto started the season hot, and have not really let up since.
Even though the Raptors are on top of the NBA for now, there have been signs that they’re entering tough waters. Toronto ended 2018 on a bit of a shaky note, going just 4-3 to end the year, and their next four games, excluding Utah (18-19), will be against teams who have won at least 20 games.
So, 2019 promises not to be kind to the Raptors, and in an ironic twist, the Jazz is hoping this new year will be better than the previous one.
They ended 2018 with a 129-97 thumping of the lowly Knicks at home, but the story of the season in Utah has been one of inconsistency. The team, led by a roster of great young guns such as Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, has had a hard time kicking in gear so far, but that could change in 2019, which will see Utah spending more time at home than on the road.
First, however, they have to slog through yet another long trip, which will take them through the Great Lakes this time around.
Jazz at Raptors live stream
When: Tuesday, Jan. 1
Time: 7:30 pm EST/5:30 pm MST
Where: Toronto, ON
Venue: Scotiabank Arena
TV Info: NBA TV
Live Stream: Fubo.tv (free seven-day trial!), NBA League PassÂ
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