Finally some good news in the cascade of injuries (and defeats) that has hit the Raptors since the start of the season. Hit in the right ankle last December 9 against the Knicks, Scottie Barnes could make his return next night against Brooklyn. The winger was initially announced to be absent for several weeks after a severe fall and a reaction which left fears of the worst for the Toronto star.
Scottie Barnes was, however, able to return to full training on Wednesday, an almost unexpected rapid outcome. “ The first two days after the injury, everything calmed down a little, I started to feel much better » explained the All-Star to the media. “ I started to be able to walk more and more, day by day, I really started to feel good. It took a little while, but I'm so glad it wasn't as serious as I feared. »
Scottie Barnes, announced as “questionable”, will therefore only have missed two matches, a lesser evil for the Canadian franchise. The Toronto Star newspaper suggests that he should hold his place well against the Nets unless there is a last minute problem during warm-ups. Scottie Barnes had already missed 11 games at the start of the season due to an orbital floor fracture, in a cursed start to the season for the decimated Raptors.
Barnes leaves the infirmary, Poeltl enters
Only three players on the squad were able to play each of the first 27 matches of the season (Ochai Agbaji, Davion Mitchell and Jonathan Mogbo), and certain absences weigh heavily on a team already in reconstruction. Immanuel Quickley is still no closer to a return after only suiting up three times. The first round of the last Draft Ja'Kobe Walter has already missed 14 games, Scottie Barnes 13 and Gradey Dick 5. Bruce Brown has not even made his debut yet.
And as everything definitely cannot go in the right direction for Toronto, it is now Jakob Poeltl who is in the infirmary. The Austrian pivot injured his groin and is already out for this Thursday evening, before a possible prolonged absence. Coach Darko Rajakovic may have to rely on Kelly Olynyk… just back from injury and who has only played four games this season.
