The Raptors will be without their starting center Jakob Poeltl once again on Saturday night as they host the Celtics. Poeltl, who’s been managing a lingering back issue this season, is set to miss his second straight game. Head coach Darko Rajakovic made it clear that this is part of a bigger-picture approach to keeping Poeltl healthy for the long haul.
“We have a long-term plan for him,” Rajakovic explained. “It’s about managing the injury, building his strength, and understanding that he might have to play through some discomfort.”
The Raptors aren’t sounding any alarms here-Rajakovic emphasized that if this were the offseason, a simple two-week shutdown would likely have Poeltl back at 100%. But with the season in full swing, the team is opting for a day-by-day strategy rather than pulling the plug entirely.
Bottom line: it’s not a serious issue, but it’s one they’re keeping a close eye on.
Toronto will also remain without forward RJ Barrett, who’s set to miss his 12th consecutive game due to a right knee sprain. The good news?
He’s trending in the right direction. Barrett is back on the court doing individual work and is expected to ramp things up soon by going live against coaches.
If all goes well, he’ll rejoin his teammates for full practices and scrimmages in the coming days. It’s a step-by-step process, but the Raptors are hopeful he’ll be back in the rotation soon.
Across the league, a few more injury updates are shaping team rotations heading into the weekend.
In Atlanta, rookie center N’Faly Dante may be facing a serious setback. During a G League game with the College Park Skyhawks on Friday, Dante landed awkwardly after grabbing a rebound and twisted his right knee.
He was in visible pain and had to be carried off the court. It was his first game action since entering the concussion protocol earlier this month.
There’s no official diagnosis yet, but the early signs don’t look encouraging.
The Sixers will be without MVP Joel Embiid again on Saturday as he continues to manage both an illness and his right knee. This marks his second straight absence, and with Philadelphia looking to keep him fresh for the long haul, expect them to remain cautious.
Meanwhile, Paul George will also sit out Saturday’s action due to left knee injury management. George played Friday night against the Knicks, and given that he hasn’t played both ends of a back-to-back all season, this was expected.
In Indiana, Pacers big man Tony Bradley is dealing with a fractured tip of his thumb. Head coach Rick Carlisle described it as “partially functional,” and Bradley is wearing a splint to protect it.
He’s not being shut down, but the injury did prompt the Pacers to bring in some extra help. Indiana signed James Wiseman to a 10-day contract to bolster their frontcourt depth.
Carlisle acknowledged that Wiseman isn’t in full game shape yet, but he’ll be available if needed.
And for Saturday’s marquee matchup in Toronto, the Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown. Boston’s leading scorer is sidelined with an illness after playing in 26 of the team’s first 27 games. His absence will be felt, especially against a Raptors squad that’s trying to find consistency amid injury setbacks of their own.
As the season grinds toward the new year, managing health is becoming just as important as managing minutes. For several teams, it’s less about who’s playing tonight and more about who will be ready when it really counts.