Toronto Raptors’ Barnes, Trent Jr. and Young doubtful for Game 2 against Philadelphia
The Toronto Raptors could possibly be with out guard Gary Trent Jr. and forwards Scottie Barnes and Thaddeus Younger for Recreation 2 of their NBA playoff sequence with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Each Barnes (ankle) and Younger (thumb) had been injured in Saturday’s 131-111 Recreation 1 drubbing to the Sixers, whereas Trent Jr. is coping with a non-COVID associated sickness.
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse stated all three gamers had been unlikely to play Monday in Philadelphia.
“Pay attention, it would not look good for any of these guys,” Nurse instructed reporters on Sunday. “They’re all going to be listed as, most likely, uncertain. So it would not look good for any of them. However we’ll consider it as we go and hopefully we will see the place we find yourself.”
Barnes, an NBA rookie of the yr candidate, was having a superb playoff debut, with 15 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists, earlier than the Sixers’ 280-pound centre Joel Embiid stepped on his foot, sending him sprawling to the ground in agony with about 9 minutes left to play.
Younger left the sport after damaging his thumb within the second quarter.
The ailing Trent Jr., who averaged 18.3 factors per sport within the common season, struggled within the playoff opener, scoring simply 9 factors on 2-for-11 taking pictures in 26 minutes of labor.
“Give him a whole lot of credit score for going on the market and giving an effort final night time, as a result of he was struggling, clearly, as you can all inform,” Nurse stated of Trent Jr. “So I give him credit score for him going on the market and manning up somewhat bit. However we’ll see the place we’re at with him as we go right here.”
In the meantime, crew was awaiting outcomes of the MRIs carried out on Barnes and Younger on Sunday.
All-star guard Fred VanVleet, who missed 11 of Toronto’s remaining 24 regular-season video games with a bruised knee, stated coping with accidents and adversity is nothing new for the Raptors.
“We have performed with out guys all yr, clearly presently of yr you wish to have all of your greatest gamers however we’ll see what the state of affairs is, discover out within the morning who’s in, who’s out after which it will be time for any individual else to step up,” he stated.
VanVleet stated the crew has responded to adversity all yr and must do it once more once they hit the ground short-handed on Monday night time.
The Raptors seemed overwhelmed by the 76ers in Recreation 1 and VanVleet admitted the crew was “little comfortable and somewhat sluggish” within the street opener, one thing he chalks as much as the Raptors’ inexperienced lineup.
“We’re a younger crew, let’s not neglect that. I do know we performed nicely and we received sizzling in direction of the tip of the yr however this was a great wake-up name for lots of men,” stated VanVleet, who had 18 factors and 6 assists within the opener.
The sequence will head to Toronto for Recreation 3 on Wednesday and Recreation 4 subsequent Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed April 17, 2022.
