The Toronto Raptors will be facing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night without the services of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. The Raptors announced on Thursday that both players will miss the game due to personal reasons. This absence continues a stretch where both Barrett and Quickley have been away from the team.
Toronto’s injury situation remains significant as they also continue to be without Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Chris Boucher, and DJ Carton. While there is currently no set timeline for Barnes or Poeltl’s return, neither player has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the season. Their ongoing absence adds to the challenges facing the Raptors.
On a more positive note, Jontay Porter, who had left Wednesday’s game early due to an illness, is not listed on the injury report. He is expected to be available as Toronto’s backup center, supporting Kelly Olynyk.
The Raptors are currently on an eight-game losing streak, a streak that may extend as they face the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder, leading the Western Conference, are likely to pose a tough challenge for Toronto, especially with standout player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge.
Given the team’s current state, Toronto is expected to utilize an 11-man rotation for the game, with most players on the roster seeing action except for Garrett Temple. Bruce Brown Jr. will likely start in Quickley’s absence, joined by Gradey Dick, Gary Trent Jr., Ochai Agbaji, and Olynyk in the starting lineup.
The Raptors’ bench will feature Jahmi’us Ramsey, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Jordan Nwora, and Jalen McDaniels, who are anticipated to play significant roles off the bench.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have not yet released their injury report for the game, but they have been operating at full strength and are poised to continue their strong performance. They will look to build on their lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference standings.
In summary, the Raptors are navigating a challenging period with several key players sidelined. The game against the Thunder presents a significant test, particularly with the Thunder’s strong form this season.
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