Kawhi Leonard will play in back-to-back games starting in January, according to Nick Nurse. Leonard was held out for tonight's 126-101 loss to the 76ers. 

"I think we are there. I think, after we get here to the new year, we'll be there," Nurse said in terms of Leonard's ability to handle the quick turnaround as he recovers from a quad injury. 

Leonard has yet to play in both halves of a back-to-back this season. He's missed nine games so far, five from what the team calls "load management". 

The Raptors have five more back-to-back games this season. Leonard is averaging 26.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. 

Kyle Lowry is taking a "hands-off" approach in convincing Kawhi Leonard to re-sign with the Toronto Raptors. Lowry added that he'll be happy for Leonard regardless of his decision, especially on the heels of the DeMar DeRozan trade. 

Of whether he thinks Leonard will re-sign or leave in free agency, Lowry said “There’s no read. We don’t have to read him, because he talks to us. He’s our teammate. He’s a guy we talk to every day. He’s awesome. He’s enjoying being back on the floor playing basketball at a high level. That’s what he’s really enjoying".

Lowry added that Leonard's decision resonates beyond the Raptors.

“I’ve dealt with this before with DeMar — the speculation — and I will be happy for Kawhi Leonard when he makes his decision. Nothing else matters but his happiness, and that’s how I am, because our brotherhood is too small for us to say this, that and the other (about another player’s free agency decision) Our brotherhood in the NBA is really tiny, and we really all appreciate and support and want each other happy".

The acquisition of Kawhi Leonard by the Toronto Raptors has gone extremely well, but they remain nervous about their odds of re-signing him in 2019.

"They can't change the geography. They can't change the weather in Toronto. Those were always be things against them in this," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "Home and L.A. has been the focus for Kawhi Leonard through all of this."

Wojnarowski also added that quality of life will also be a priority for Leonard and that his prior championship changes the equation for some players. 

Leonard previously sought a trade from the San Antonio Spurs to one of the two Los Angeles teams.

The Los Angeles Clippers have been sending Lawrence Frank to an inordinate number Raptors' games and have been treating Leonard's impending free agency almost like a college recruiting process. 

Jonas Valanciunas underwent surgery on a dislocated left thumb and will be out at least four weeks.

Valanciunas suffered the injury in the first half of Toronto's win at the Warriors.

Kawhi Leonard has remained focused on the Toronto Raptors and has continue to filter out external conversations about his 2019 free agency.

“I focus on what we’re doing,” Leonard said of his reaction to all the speculation. “I don’t buy into reading media, don’t have no social media, so just focus on what’s in front of me. At that time it’s either my family or playing basketball.”

Leonard is not bothered by what is said about him.

“Not at all. I don’t watch TV too much,” Leonard said.

Leonard was also asked what he thinks of the Raptors' organization.

“It’s been good so far,” Leonard said. “Like I said, we’ve been winning, everyone’s playing well. Can’t complain.”

Leonard was asked how the Raptors and Spurs differ as franchises.

“It’s still two goals and a basketball, just different teammates,” Leonard said.

Steph Curry praised the Toronto Raptors for being a well-balanced team following Golden State's 113-93 loss.

Curry said that the Raptors "have a little bit of everything - athletic wings and bigs that can shoot threes and put the ball on the floor...they're pretty well-rounded and they've shown different styles to win games".

The Raptors won without Kawhi Leonard, who missed his second straight game with a hip injury. Jonas Valanciunas was ruled out after the second quarter with a dislocated thumb.

Kyle Lowry lead the way for the Raptors with 23 points and 12 assists. 

The Raptors are now 7-1 without Leonard. 

In a recent two-day celebration of his Giants of Africa basketball program, Masai Ujiri stated that there are 10 players with the athletic ability of Joel Embiid in Africa who have never touched a basketball. 

"I'm confident to say there are 10 Embiids walking around, there are 10 whoevers walking around in Africa", Ujiri said, while adding that "there are people who have gone through their lives that have that athletic ability who haven't even touched a basketball. They never had the courts, they never had the opportunity. That's why it's a gold mine and people are starting to realize it now."

Ujiri has also been in talks with the NBA and FIBA about starting a basketball league in Africa, although he cites logistical difficulties as a stumbling block.

Embiid and Pascal Siakam were discovered at Luc Mbah a Moute's Basketball Without Borders camp in Cameroon. Embiid played volleyball before picking up basketball at the age of 17. 

Masai Ujiri insists he doesn't have an acrimonious relationship with Kyle Lowry following the Toronto Raptors' trade of DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard.

Ujiri told ESPN's The Jump that he has never done anything malicious toward Lowry but that if it was wrong to deal DeMar DeRozan, "Yes, that's what I did wrong."

"I understand what happened with DeMar," Ujiri said. "There are two things in this business that are tough. ... When a player leaves -- and Kawhi [Leonard] left. And then, when a player gets traded. Those two things are tough. And in our position, we have to do them, and we have to deal with them.

"And in a trade, it's tough to communicate with players in that manner. We have to communicate with agents and can't go and say, 'Oh, you're going to get traded.'"

Lowry remains loyal to DeRozan and his comments about Ujiri left a lot up for interpretation.

"Ah, he's the president of basketball operations. And that's it," Lowry said. "I mean, I come here and I do my job. ... He does his job, I do my job. Right? That's what you do."

Ujiri defended the move, which has helped Toronto secure a 21-5 record to start the season.

"We thought, 'We have to change. We have to be better,'" Ujiri said, referring to the Raptors' perennial ouster from the playoffs. "We have to be better; we have to win. The game is all about winning and treating people the right way. And honestly ... god bless DeMar. What I did wrong was trade him. Yes, that's what I did wrong if it's wrong. You know, like, we traded players, but nothing else I did; there's nothing else."

Ujiri was also effusive in his praise for Lowry's contributions and personality.

"It's been like that with Kyle since I came here," Ujiri said of their neutral but professional relationship. "We've never -- we don't have a confrontation. We don't -- I've never done anything wrong to him. It's just this kind of decision-making that we have to go through. And I know how Kyle is, so honestly, I love him to death.

"He plays basketball the right way. He gives it his all, you know. And I'm so used to it. And you know he has a good heart. And I know that I haven't done anything wrong to him. I didn't trade him."

Kay Felder has been released by Raptors 905 following a domestic violence charge.

Raptors 905 released a statement Monday afternoon:

"On Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, Raptors 905 guard Kay Felder was charged by police in connection with an allegation of domestic violence. Raptors 905 have waived Felder, effective immediately. As this matter is before the courts, Raptors 905 will not comment further."

Felder had been averaging 18.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 11 games for Raptors 905 this season.

Doc Rivers and Nick Nurse have been named the NBA's Coaches of the Month for October and November.

Rivers led the Clippers to a Western Conference-best 15-6 record over the first two months of the season, tied for the NBA’s second-best record in that span.

Nurse led Toronto to an NBA-best 19-4 record, including a franchise-record six straight victories to start the season (Oct. 17-26).