The Toronto Raptors are on the road for their final game of this season as they travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets following a defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers at home.
Despite a disappointing season for both teams, tonight’s match is marked by a roster replete with injuries on both sides.
The Raptors have decided to rest key players RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk after a back-to-back game situation. Immanuel Quickley will return to the lineup following a rest day against the Pacers. Several other players like Bruce Brown, Gary Trent Jr., and Grady Dick are listed as questionable due to various issues.
An ongoing investigation concerns Raptors center Jontay Porter who has been sidelined since being accused of gambling on games he was involved in. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver hinted at serious consequences should Porter be found guilty of the allegations.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, also faces injury hurdles with seven players on the report, but a few are expected to be probable. Noteworthy in their lineup is Mikal Bridges, a staple player who has never missed a game in his NBA career.
While the two teams are locked into their current standings, the Raptors will aim to battle with pride against a Nets team above them in their division, despite facing a depleted roster.
The game tips off at 7:30pm ET at the Barclays Center and will air on TSN. The likely lineups feature Quickley, Trent Jr., Dick, and Brown for the Raptors, while the Nets are expected to field Schroder, Thomas, Bridges, Johnson, and Claxton.
The injury list for Toronto includes notable absentees like Barnes, Poeltl, and Boucher among others, whereas Brooklyn’s list includes players like Bates-Diop, Finney-Smith, and Gilyard.
Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines