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.
In Other News...
RJ Barrett Is Giving The Raptors A Tough Trade Deadline Decision
RJ Barretts recent stretch has only sharpened the questions around his place in Torontos long-term plans. As one of the Raptors primary scoring options, he has been asked to carry a heavy offensive load, but the results have been uneven, with his shooting and defensive impact both swinging from game to game. His outing against the Boston Celtics summed up the concern, as he finished with 12 points on 5-of-16 shooting while continuing to battle the kind of shot selection issues that can stall an offense.
With the trade deadline approaching, Barretts inconsistency is putting the Raptors in a difficult spot. Toronto has to weigh the value of his scoring upside against the reality that his fit has not yet looked settled, especially when his three-point shooting and defensive reliability are part of the conversation. For a team trying to clarify its direction, Barretts uneven play has turned into one of the more important decisions on the board. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Face Another Brutal Test Without A Key Starter
The Raptors are heading into another difficult matchup shorthanded, with Scottie Barnes, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kawhi Leonard all ruled out for their game against the 76ers. It is the kind of injury report that changes the feel of a night before the opening tip, especially for a Toronto group already trying to stay afloat through a stretch of absences.
Philadelphia has its own uncertainty, with LeBron James out and Joel Embiid listed as questionable for the 7:00 pm ET meeting. Even with the other side dealing with some missing names, Toronto still has to find enough creation and defensive resistance to survive a game that suddenly looks a lot more about depth than star power. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Could Catch 76ers At A Surprisingly Vulnerable Time
Joel Embiids assessment of the 76ers after 12 games was blunt enough to matter, especially for a team that still owns one of the Easts best records while leaving plenty of room for growth on both ends. Philadelphia has been winning despite some uneven offensive production, and Embiids own right foot injury has added another layer of uncertainty as the schedule moves on. Even so, he was present for media availability, which suggests the Raptors will have to prepare as if he could be on the floor when the teams meet next.
For Toronto, the timing is at least intriguing. The Raptors are already dealing with several key absences, so any edge in this matchup likely has to come from catching Philadelphia before it fully sharpens its game. A contender can look vulnerable without actually being in danger, and the Sixers early-season profile fits that description right now, with enough success to stay near the top and enough inconsistency to leave the door cracked open for an undermanned opponent. [Read more 🡒]