The Toronto Raptors and Immanuel Quickley have had terrible injury luck so far this season. The team recently announced that Quickley will be sidelined again due to a partial tear in his left elbow’s ulnar collateral ligament. The Quickley injury happened during Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, and he will be out for at least a week before he’s re-evaluated. This news adds Quickley’s name back to the already full Toronto Raptors injury report and thickens the dark cloud that has been hanging over their season.
Raptors Injury Report Grows With Key Starter Sidelined… Again
Quickley Injury Has Bad Timing
Quickley joined the Raptors in a trade last year that sent OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks, and he was expected to be a cornerstone of the Raptors’ backcourt. So far, injuries have limited his impact. Earlier in the season, he suffered a pelvic contusion in Toronto’s opening game, which sidelined him for eight games. Quickley’s recent return to the court on November 9th against the Los Angeles Clippers was supposed to be a fresh start. Now he’s back on the bench, adding more challenges for a Raptors team that currently sits at the bottom of the NBA standings with a 2-10 record.
With Quickley out, head coach Darko Rajakovic will likely turn to Davion Mitchell again to fill the lead guard position. Mitchell has shown promise on defense but has achieved career-highs in assists, rebounds, and steals so far this season. Jamal Shead is another guard who may also be called upon to play a larger role off the bench.
Toronto Raptors Injury Report is Full
The Quickley injury couldn’t come at a worse time for the Raptors. They are also missing several other key players. Scottie Barnes is out with an orbital fracture. Ja’Kobe Walter, Kelly Olynyk, and Bruce Brown are sidelined with various injuries as well. None of these players have set timetables for their returns.
With the current Toronto Raptors injury report, it’s hard to see Toronto competing at their full potential. As they sit at 2-10, the Raptors are under pressure to turn things around quickly. Their upcoming schedule won’t make it easy, their next game is against a feisty Detroit Pistons team. After that, they face the two Eastern Conference Finalists from last season, the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers.
Moving Forward
Given the severity of an ulnar collateral ligament injury, Quickley could potentially be out for more than just a week. The team will undoubtedly monitor his recovery closely, hoping that his absence will be short-term. But the Raptors’ reliance on Quickley and the continued absence of other starters like Barnes makes it likely they’ll continue to face challenges in November.
The team’s coaching staff may need to explore deeper rotations or lean on untested players. As they try to make up for Quickley’s absence and grab some wins, a new face will need to step up. For now, the Raptors can only hope their top contributors will soon return healthy.
