The injury bug has hit the Toronto Raptors. For the first time this season, Toronto will be without Jakob Poeltl who has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Poeltl sustained the injury Sunday night against the Golden State Warriors when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of Pascal Siakam. He stayed down briefly but remained in the game.
On the heels of the OG Anunoby trade that sent Precious Achiuwa to New York, Toronto is now awfully thin in the frontcourt. Poeltl is the team’s only traditional center with Christian Koloko still out with ongoing respiratory issues. Poeltl had played in all 36 of Toronto’s games this year. Prior to this injury, Anunoby’s finger injury had been the only time Toronto was without a starter this season. Toronto has also listed Otto Porter Jr. as doubtful to play with a right knee sprain. The Raptors will likely be forced to use Chris Boucher and two-way big Jontay Porter in the frontcourt. Boucher is coming off a 17-point performance against the Warriors in one of the best games of his season. He may be asked to slide into the starting lineup for Poeltl.
Toronto could also elect to go small and bump Gary Trent Jr. back up into the starting lineup with Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam in the frontcourt. It would, however, leave the Raptors quite undersized against LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Raptors will also play the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. It’s therefore possible Poeltl will miss a couple of games here. There’s no word on the severity of the injury.
