Scottie Barnes will not be available when the Toronto Raptors face the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
Barnes has missed the last few games with a groin injury, and that absence is set to continue. NBA insider Blake Murphy of Sportsnet reported on X, formerly Twitter: “Scottie Barnes, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Kawhi Leonard are OUT for Raptors tonight. Malachi Smith up with NBA team, McCullar with 905, Bittle still out,”
Toronto is also dealing with a crowded injury report beyond Barnes. Kawhi Leonard has already missed most of the season because of a lingering knee swelling issue, and the team recently announced he would be out for another stretch of games. Malachi Smith has been called up to the NBA team, McCullar is with the 905, and Bittle remains sidelined.
The Raptors come into the matchup on the second night of a back-to-back after a narrow loss at home to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, a game in which they still put up a fight despite being shorthanded. Toronto is 5-6 on the season.
Barnes has not turned preseason talk of a three-point leap into much so far, but he has still been effective in nearly every other area when he has played this year. Toronto will be hoping to get him back soon, especially with Leonard still unavailable.
On the other side, LeBron James will be out for the 76ers, while Joel Embiid is listed as questionable.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET.
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76ers Injury Trouble Just Opened A Door The Raptors Need
Scottie Barnes will miss a fourth straight game with a left groin strain, leaving the Raptors without one of their most important two-way players as they get ready to face the 76ers. Toronto has already felt the impact of Barnes absence on both ends of the floor, and with Kawhi Leonard also unavailable, the rotation is being pushed into a thinner, more uncertain shape than the team would prefer at this point.
Still, the matchup comes with a chance for Toronto to keep pressing forward against a Philadelphia group dealing with its own injury issues. LeBron James is out, Joel Embiid is questionable, and the Raptors will need more from the next wave of contributors, including Jamal Shead and Collin Murray-Boyles, to help cover the ground Barnes usually handles. For a team looking to stay afloat through the injuries, this is the kind of game where the margins matter. [Read more 🡒]
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 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 🡒]