The Toronto Raptors have yet to have all the members of their squad available at the same time. As a result, and what could have likely been predictable, the Raptors are just 1-3 on the season with a minus-nine-point scoring differential. The Raptors will once again be severely shorthanded when they face the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte tonight.
While RJ Barrett debuted in Monday’s loss to Denver, the Raptors continue to be without Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown. Toronto also has ruled out star Scottie Barnes for Wednesday’s contest. Meanwhile, Immanuel Quickley is doubtful against Charlotte.
Barnes didn’t travel with the team to Charlotte, tweeted Marc J. Spears of ESPN on Tuesday.
Raptors say Scottie Barnes will not travel to Charlotte and will remain in Toronto to continue medical assessments after taking an elbow to the right eye in the fourth quarter of Monday’s loss to Denver.
NBA Injury Updates: Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Ben Simmons, Kyle Kuzma, Devin Vassell, and Luke Kennard
Barnes is off to an uneven start. The 23-year-old, who made his first all-star appearance last year, has one double and is averaging 19 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. He has topped the 20-point mark three times. However, he has struggled shooting the ball at 46/18.2/73.9.
Toronto is pretty small, especially with Olynyk out. However, veteran Chris Boucher appears to be the logical choice to start at power forward, although the 31-year-old has only started 23 games over his career. It is possible that Darko Rajakovic decides to go with Ochai Agbaji, forcing Barrett to man the four.
The Raptors provided an update to Barnes injury. The 6-7 forward will miss at least the next three weeks with a right orbital fracture. According to the Raptors press release, Barnes sustained the injury after taking a Nikola Jokic elbow to the face late in Monday’s overtime loss.
The three weeks that the Raptors mentioned are to the point where Barnes will be re-evaluated, meaning he could be out longer. If Barnes only misses three weeks, he will miss the Raptors’ next 11 games, according to TSN.ca Josh Lewenberg.
With this timeline, Barnes will miss at least 11 games. 9 of those 11 games come against teams that made the postseason last year, 7 of them come on the road. Barnes, Quickley and Barrett, who haven’t played together since Mar. 1, won’t share the court until late Nov, at earliest
With Barnes unavailable, rookies Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamison Battle, and Boucher are in line to see an increase in playing time. The Raptors have also recalled 2024 first-round selection Ja’Kobe Walter from Raptors 905.
Quickley has been out since suffering a pelvic injury in the season opener. If he does sit out again, Davion Mitchell is in line to start his fourth straight game. Mitchell has had an uneven start to the season, averaging 8.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 turnovers.
Ben Simmons Returns While Nic Claxton Sits Out For Nets
Brooklyn Nets will get one player as Ben Simmons returns from a one-game injury maintenance absence while losing another for their game at Memphis tonight. Center Nic Claxton, who is still ramping up his conditioning after missing the entire preseason with a hamstring injury, will sit out Wednesday’s game as the Nets are playing the second end of back-to-backs.
Brooklyn head coach Jordi Fernandez told Ted Holmund of The New York Post that Claxton didn’t experience any setbacks, so the 6-11 center is sitting out due to injury maintenance.
“It’s basically part of the return to play with his minutes, back-to-back, being cautious with his body and this was part of the plan. So he did a great job. He played those, those extra minutes at 26 (on Tuesday vs. Denver). Right now, we need a good rest and recovery, and then we’ll take the next step. So again, very, very happy with him.”
Claxton has come off the bench in the Nets first four games. However, the 25-year-old has seen his minutes slowly increase with each appearance. He has compiled a double-double in his last two contests, totaling a season-high 16 points and 12 boards against Denver last night.
With Simmons (lower back maintenance) sitting out last night, Fernandez inserted Noah Clowney in the starting lineup at center. Clowney only saw 16 minutes against the Nuggets, as Claxton saw most of the time at center. Simmons, averaging a modest 5.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, likely will replace Clowney in the starting unit.
More Injury Notes
Oklahoma City announced that Jaylin Williams irritated his strained right hamstring during a workout on Tuesday. Williams, who hasn’t played this season, will have his condition reevaluated in four to six weeks.
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball is out for at least a week with a right wrist sprain that suffered the injury during the first quarter against Memphis on Monday. Ball, part of a crowded Bulls backcourt, has seen about 16 minutes a game and will likely miss six games with the injury. Balltoldo reporters on Wednesday about the injury, explaining that it falls between a Grade 1 and Grade 2 sprain, per Jamal Collier of ESPN.
“If I play on it right now while it’s still swollen, it could get to a Grade 3. That would require surgery,” said Ball, who had a brace on his right wrist. “Trying to avoid that obviously. Let the swelling down, hopefully tape it up and get back to it.”
Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter (right knee management) will miss his third straight game. The Hawks will only have 10 players available for tonight’s game. A a result of Hunter’s absence, rookie Zaccharie Risacher will make his third straight start while David Roddy will make his first start against the Wizards.
More Injury News
According to the team, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma sustained a right groin strain in Monday’s game against Atlanta and will miss at least tonight’s rematch against the Hawks. This will be the 29-year-old forward’s first absence of the season. Kuzma has gotten off to a slow start shooting the ball, making just 32.7% of his field goal attempts and 27.8% of his threes.
It is unknown whether Kuzma will miss more than one game. With Kuzma out, 2024 first-round pick Kyshawn George will make his first start of the campaign. George joins Jordan Poole, Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, and Alex Sarr in the starting lineup.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell has to play this season. However, the 24-year-old guard is making his recovery from foot surgery and has been assigned to the Austin Spurs as G-League training camp opens, per Tom Orsborne of The San Antonio News-Express.
Coach Gregg Popovich recently told ESPN’s Michael C. Wright that he expects Vassell to return sometime at the beginning of November.
Devin Vassell is indeed doing limited contact work. Pop said he expects Vassell back sometime during the first week of November.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Luke Kennard, who has missed the team’s first four games of the season due to a foot strain, is getting close to returning to action according to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Luke Kennard was a full participant in practice today. Taylor Jenkins said he’ll build up over the next week.
