Toronto Raptors 2019-20 schedule overview: 10 games to circle on your calendar

DeRozan returns looking for a better result the second time around

8. San Antonio Spurs at Raptors – Jan. 12, 2020

Trading DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green was possibly the single most impactful trade in basketball history, but don’t get it twisted.

From now until he retires, DeMar DeRozan will be welcomed back to Toronto with open arms. It might not be as big a deal as it was when he returned to Toronto for the first time in the black and grey of the San Antonio Spurs last season, but there will still be standing ovations and awkward cheers when DeRozan scores, no question about it.

The rematch with the Greek Freak

9.  Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks – Nov. 2, 2019

A rematch of the Eastern Conference finals, the Raptors will travel to Milwaukee rather early in the season to take on the Bucks, who now find themselves without Malcolm Brogdon but are still the betting favourites to win the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks blew a 2-0 lead to the Raptors last season, and it’s still very much so on their mind. They’ll be out to make a statement on their home floor, but with the Raptors’ past successes against Milwaukee fresh in their minds too, both teams will be confident they can pull out the W.