Injury Bug Hits Raptors Who Will be Shorthanded vs. Lakers - Sport News

Injury Bug Hits Raptors Who Will be Shorthanded vs. Lakers

For the first time this season, Toronto will be without Jakob Poeltl who has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Poeltl sustained the injury Sunday night against the Golden State Warriors when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of Pascal Siakam. He stayed down briefly but remained in the game.

On the heels of the OG Anunoby trade that sent Precious Achiuwa to New York, Toronto is now awfully thin in the frontcourt. Poeltl is the team’s only traditional center with Christian Koloko still out with ongoing respiratory issues.

Poeltl had played in all 36 of Toronto’s games this year. Prior to this injury, Anunoby’s finger injury had been the only time Toronto was without a starter this season.

Toronto has also listed Otto Porter Jr. as doubtful to play with a right knee sprain.

The Raptors will likely be forced to use Chris Boucher and two-way big Jontay Porter in the frontcourt. Boucher is coming off a 17-point performance against the Warriors in one of the best games of his season. He may be asked to slide into the starting lineup for Poeltl.

Toronto could also elect to go small and bump Gary Trent Jr. back up into the starting lineup with Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam in the frontcourt. It would, however, leave the Raptors quite undersized against LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Raptors will also play the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. It’s therefore possible Poeltl will miss a couple of games here. There’s no word on the severity of the injury.

Related Posts

Grizzlies analyst: Trading ex-Boston Celtics DPOY Marcus Smart for Knicks star ‘worth strongly considering’

Evidently, Mаrcus Smаrt doesn’t meаn neаrly аs mucһ to tһe Mempһis Grizzlies fаnbаse аs һe did to Boston Celtics fаnаtics wһose һeаrts were broken wһen tһe former…

Celtics star dishes on trash talk with former teammate in Hornets win

Tһe Celtics ɡot аn eаsy win over tһe Hornets on Mondаy niɡһt in Cһаrlotte wһile аlso seeinɡ а fаmiliаr fаce. Old friend Grаnt Williаms plаyed one of…

Former rival expects LeBron James to retire by 2025

If а first-time viewer were to tune into а Lаkers ɡаme, tһey’d probаbly tһink LeBron Jаmes is still аn аtһlete in һis prime. And nobody would blink…

LeBron James Sends Strong Message on Retirement Following 40-Point Game

Los Anɡeles Lаkers stаr LeBron Jаmes һаs sһown few siɡns of slowinɡ down, even in һis 21st NBA seаson, but һe cаn feel tһe end drаwinɡ neаr….

ESPN analyst gives bogus reason for why Knicks’ Jalen Brunson doesn’t get foul calls

New York Knicks point ɡuаrd Jаlen Brunson is six-foot-two. He аverаɡes 4.2 field ɡoаl аttempts per ɡаme less tһаn five feet from tһe ɡoаl аnd sһoots 56.9%…

4 takeaways as Celtics beat Hornets, almost clinch NBA-best record

Tһe Celtics will come һome аfter а seаson-lonɡ six-ɡаme roаd trip witһ а 4-2 record. Tһe C’s beаt tһe Hornets 118-104 on Mondаy in Cһаrlotte аfter pullinɡ…