The Toronto Raptors are set to begin the first of two home games this week against an Orlando Magic team already dealing with a trimmed-down rotation.
The biggest absence remains Paolo Banchero, who will miss the next 4-6 weeks after suffering a low-grade right high ankle sprain late in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves last Friday. Orlando also has starting point guard Jalen Suggs sidelined for these two games after he picked up a mild bone bruise in his right knee late in the fourth quarter Sunday night, when the Magic earned their first win of the season over the New York Knicks.
There was one more Orlando situation worth watching before tipoff. According to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, guard Anthony Black did not attend shootaround earlier in the day because of personal reasons. He had been listed as questionable, but was later cleared and is now available for tonight’s game.
The final injury list for the matchup also includes Jonathan Isaac, who is out with left knee injury management, Izaiyah Nelson, who remains out in left ankle injury recovery, and Noah Penda, who is sidelined by a right partially torn hamstring. Nate Bittle is also out with a right foot avulsion fracture. Kawhi Leonard will not be available either, as he is out with inflammation in his right knee and expected to miss the next few weeks.
Final injury report: Paolo Banchero: OUT - RIght Low Grade High Ankle Sprain
Jonathan Isaac: OUT - Left Knee Injury Management
Izaiyah Nelson: OUT - Left Ankle Injury Recovery
Noah Penda: OUT - Right Partially Torn Hamstring
Jalen Suggs: OUT - Right Knee Contusion/Bone Bruise
Nate Bittle: OUT - Right Foot Avulsion Fracture
Kawhi Leonard: OUT - Left Knee Effusion/Swelling
In Other News...
Magic Face An Early Test As Injuries Raise The Stakes
The Raptors head into their matchup with Orlando still sorting through the offensive issues that showed up in the loss to Minnesota, where Scottie Barnes had a particularly rough night. Toronto needs more from its young centerpiece, especially in terms of aggressiveness and playmaking, and this stretch against the Magic offers a chance to reset before the seasons early frustrations settle in.
Orlando comes in dealing with its own injury problems, with Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs both sidelined, which changes the look of the game even if the challenge remains real. For Toronto, that only adds to the importance of handling business against a depleted opponent, because the Raptors can use a clean offensive performance just as much as they need a result. [Read more 🡒]
Scottie Barnes Is Raising A Real Concern For The Raptors Offense
Scottie Barnes early-season shot profile has become a notable wrinkle for the Raptors, and not necessarily the kind that encourages confidence. Instead of living at the rim the way he has in past seasons, Barnes has been leaning more heavily into mid-range looks, a shift that has altered the balance of Torontos offense and taken some of the pressure off defenders to protect the paint.
Darko Rajakovic has said opposing coverages have played a role in that change, but the larger concern is whether Barnes can get back to being a consistent paint threat while still operating as a playmaker. He has already shown flashes in the opening stretch, then followed that with a rough shooting night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which only adds to the sense that Toronto is still trying to figure out how best to use its most important young piece. [Read more 🡒]
Allen Graves Is Giving The Raptors Something They Desperately Need
Allen Graves has barely had time to settle into an NBA rhythm, but the early returns have been exactly the kind Toronto has been searching for. Through his first three games, he has made an impact in limited minutes with steady defense, active rebounding and enough overall presence to hint at a bigger role if he keeps stacking these shifts.
The appeal goes beyond the box score, because the Raptors have been looking for more help in an area that has lagged so far this season. Graves brings a defensive profile that already stands out, and if his 3-point shot keeps coming along, it could make him even more valuable to a team that has leaned heavily on Jamison Battle, JaKobe Walter and Immanuel Quickley from deep. [Read more 🡒]