Los Angeles has 1 more game to play before this one. The Lakers played at Golden State on October 30, a rematch of their 127-105 opening-night win, and that result will set the tone for Sunday. They went into it 4-1, averaging about 123 points a game, with Luka Dončić putting up numbers like his 41 against Portland.
Dončić is the headline, but Walker Kessler might be the bigger problem for Toronto. He's averaging 14.8 points on 75% shooting with 8.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a game. A Raptors team that just had 13 shots blocked by Orlando now gets a center who lives at the rim, and Toronto's best help-side big is in a walking boot. Los Angeles also doesn't need everything from Luka. Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton combined for 44 in the win over the Clippers that Dončić missed.
Clippers103-87
Clippers125-117
Toronto's best case is the team that scored 135 on Chicago and 129 on Orlando at home. When the ball moves, this roster can score without Leonard. The trouble is the road. Their road games so far are a 10-point win in Washington and a 23-point loss in Minneapolis. Now they play the front end of a trip out west against a team that has been almost unbeatable at the start of games.
The Lakers have injuries of their own. Cameron Carr (oblique) and Adou Thiero (knee) were out for the Warriors game, and Ziaire Williams (foot) was questionable. None of them is Leonard, though. For Toronto to steal one at crypto.com Arena, they need a big shooting night and some way to keep Kessler from turning the paint into a no-fly zone. Tipoff is 6:00 PM PT.