One could be forgiven for thinking this game would be a blowout. One would probably assume the wide margin would be in favor of the Toronto Raptors, the team with the best record in the East, starting a (rather) well-rested Kawhi Leonard.
That’s not how the game began, however, with the Rockets jumping all over the Raptors and leading by 33-20 after the first quarter. The Rockets were attacking, sharing the ball, and playing great defense. The Raptors seemed a bit befuddled by it all. They’d come here to overplay James Harden, to keep him under 40.