Raptors Heading to Vancouver for Preseason Game vs. Kings
The Toronto Raptors will once again be heading to the West Coast to open the preseason this year with an October 8 tipoff against the Sacramento Kings, the league announced Thursday.
It will be the ninth NBA Canada Series with games in both Vancouver and Montreal this year. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons will square off on October 12 in Montreal.
“The Raptors have a deep connection with Canada’s west coast – our preseason games there have been a great way for our team to begin our season," Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said in a statement. "We’re looking forward to seeing Vancouver’s basketball fans at Rogers Arena in October, and to starting another exciting NBA season there.”
The Raptors currently feature just one Canadian player, Chris Boucher, having lost Dalano Banton in free agency this summer while Khem Birch was moved at the trade deadline last year. Sacramento features Saskatoon's Trey Lyles, the lone Canadian on the Kings' roster.
Monteal's game will be a homecoming for Canadian Luguentz Dort who will share the court with Toronto's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the Bell Centre.
“After growing up and learning to play the game of basketball in Montréal, it will be a special experience to play a preseason game in my hometown," Dort said in a statement. "Canada and Montréal are home to some of the best basketball fans in the world, and I’m looking forward to taking the floor at Bell Centre.”
Toronto is expected to hold its training camp on the West Coast as well this summer, though no official announcement has been made as of yet.
