TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors have done a pretty good job of reversing narratives this year. Doubts in the pre-season about the ceiling of this team have been dispelled, questions about chemistry with such a big piece entering the fold in Brandon Ingram have been answered, and books have been closed on recent struggles against teams like the Bucks and Cavaliers.

But perhaps the biggest monkey hanging on the back of Toronto basketball, for a decade now, has been the looming presence of LeBron James.

Sure, he left for the Western Conference back in 2018, but it doesn’t mean the tough stretches against his teams have gone away. Heading into Thursday, the Raptors had lost five straight against the Los Angeles Lakers, and James hadn’t lost in Toronto since 2019.

So, regardless of the sciatic

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