The Raptors head into Thursday night’s meeting with the 76ers short-handed again, and this time the loss of Scottie Barnes looms over everything they try to do in Philadelphia.
Barnes has been ruled out with a left groin strain, which will keep him on the sideline for a fourth straight game. Toronto is also missing Kawhi Leonard, leaving the group thin as it tries to bounce back from Wednesday’s 98-93 loss to the Boston Celtics.
Barnes is the kind of player Toronto simply does not replace cleanly. He gives the Raptors size, defensive range, scoring punch and a way to organize the offense without leaning entirely on the guards. He can bring the ball up, attack mismatches, work from the high post and create advantages that ripple through the rest of the lineup.
That absence puts a lot on Jamal Shead, who has handled an expanded role well enough to post consecutive double-doubles against Milwaukee and Memphis. But asking him to absorb Barnes’ full workload is a different level of responsibility for a player still finding his way offensively.
Toronto also needs more from RJ Barrett, and that has not been easy lately. His recent struggles have made it harder for the Raptors to find steady scoring, especially with Barrett trying to function as the main creator. The Raptors need a cleaner answer than pushing his usage north of 30%.
The defensive side may be where Barnes is missed most. His mix of size, mobility and instincts lets Toronto switch, protect the rim, jump passing lanes and stay attached to ball handlers. He also covers for teammates and gives the Raptors more freedom to be aggressive without constantly getting burned by mismatches.
That shifts even more pressure onto Collin Murray-Boyles, whose activity and versatility have quickly made him a key part of the rotation. Against Philadelphia, he’ll be asked to help slow down the 76ers’ creators while bringing the physical edge and communication Toronto will need.
The Raptors also have to win the turnover battle without Barnes creating havoc on defense, and that is no small task against a Philadelphia team with threats at all three levels.
Still, the 76ers are dealing with major injury issues of their own, which gives Toronto a real opening. LeBron James has been ruled out with lower back and sciatica management, taking away one of Philadelphia’s most impactful playmakers.
Joel Embiid is listed as questionable because of a right foot plantar fascia injury. Even when he has been available, he has not looked like himself over the last few weeks. The former MVP has posted a 38.8% effective field goal percentage this season, a striking drop in efficiency.
If Embiid plays, Toronto should go after his mobility with screens, transition chances and repeated attacks at the rim. If he does not, Philadelphia’s frontcourt gets even thinner, with Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow and Ariel Hukporti also unavailable.
That leaves Toronto with a straightforward path in theory: play physical inside, crash the offensive glass and push the pace. The Raptors can’t recreate everything Barnes brings, but Philadelphia’s injury situation gives them a chance to stay in the fight while they keep navigating this rough stretch.
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