Raptors fans, get ready for some promising news. Rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles, who has been sidelined for the past eight games due to a sprained left thumb, is inching closer to a return. He participated in practice on Tuesday, and the team is now monitoring how he responds to this session to determine if he’ll suit up for Wednesday’s matchup against Chicago.
Even if he doesn’t hit the court tomorrow, head coach Darko Rajakovic is optimistic about Murray-Boyles rejoining the team during their upcoming five-game road trip, which kicks off Wednesday and wraps up next week in L.A.
Before his injury, Murray-Boyles was making quite the impact for Toronto. Starting in 18 of his last 19 games, he averaged 9.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals over 27.7 minutes per game, all while shooting an impressive 60.3% from the field.
Shifting our focus across the league, Eric Koreen of The Athletic poses an intriguing question: Are this year’s Raptors mirroring last season’s Pistons? The comparison lies in their gritty play style, despite offensive limitations, which saw the Pistons defy expectations and make a strong playoff push.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets are at a pivotal point in their rebuild. Brian Lewis of The New York Post highlights five critical factors that could accelerate their progress: rookie development, lottery pick outcomes, postseason results, potential availability of a star player, and free agency moves.
In New York, Ian Begley of SNY.tv delves into why Knicks head coach Mike Brown is hesitant to tweak a struggling starting lineup. Despite offensive struggles, Mikal Bridges has been instrumental in their defensive resurgence.
Over in Philadelphia, the Sixers are finding success despite missing key players like Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George. Young guns VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, and Justin Edwards have stepped up, leading the team to win three of their last four games. Edgecombe, in particular, is gaining valuable experience as a primary scorer, as evidenced by his recent performance against Brooklyn where he managed 16 points despite facing double teams for the first time in his career.