It sounds like Raptors swingman Norman Powell will be sidelined for an extended period, as Blake Murphy of The Athletic tweets. Powell, who suffered a subluxation (partial dislocation) of his left shoulder in Monday’s win over Utah, currently has his arm in a sling and will undergo further tests once the team is back in Toronto.
In an official press release issued this afternoon, the Raptors didn’t offer a timeline for Powell’s recovery, announcing that he’ll be out indefinitely. However, head coach Nick Nurse told reporters today that the 25-year-old will likely be on the shelf for “weeks,” with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski suggesting (via Twitter) that it could be four to six weeks.
Here are a few of the more noteworthy injury updates from around the NBA:
- Jimmy Butler, the subject of ongoing trade rumors and speculation, “should be a go” for the Timberwolves tonight against the Lakers, head coach Tom Thibodeau said today (Twitter link via ESPN’s Brian Windhorst). Butler has missed two of Minnesota’s last four games due to “general soreness” and “precautionary rest.”
- The Sixers continue to have trouble getting all their new rotation players healthy at the same time. Wilson Chandler is back in action now, but Mike Muscala will miss at least the next week after breaking his nose in a practice on Tuesday, per the team (link via Chris Mannix of SI.com).
- A trio of injured players are just about ready to make their 2018/19 debuts. Spurs point guard Derrick White will be available to play tonight (Twitter link via Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News), as will Kings wing Bogdan Bogdanovic (Twitter link via James Ham of NBC Sports California). Meanwhile, Nets forward DeMarre Carroll may play as soon as Friday in Denver (link via Brian Lewis of The New York Post).
Jimmy Butler: “Hey Thibs! Are we on on National TV tonight?
Thibs: “Grr, yeah, I think so Jimmy.”
Jimmy: “Cool. I can play tonight.”
Lol… maybe they should move all their games to National TV… one of the biggest talking pieces of the year, might as well milk it till it’s dry.
All 3 of those returns are a big deal. I’m at the spurs game right now, so guess I may see Derrick white. I like his game
I should also mention i saw Dion Waiters working out on the court an hour before the game. It didn’t seem like a heavy workload, still relatively light. Mostly shooting drills at a slow jog/walking pace, but he looked like he might be close to increasing that. Cant say for sure. I just thought he looked pretty good
The hard nosed grinder has general soreness and can’t play.