APRIL 24: The Raptors are listing VanVleet as questionable for Game 5 on Monday, having diagnosed the injury as a left hip flexor strain, per Josh Lewenberg (via Twitter).
APRIL 23: Raptors All-Star Fred VanVleet suffered a left hip strain in the team’s game against the Sixers on Saturday, Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports tweets.
VanVleet exited the contest early and ripped his jersey in frustration as he walked to the locker room. He’ll undergo further imaging to determine the extent of the injury, Lewenberg adds.
In addition to the hip injury, VanVleet has also been playing through some knee pain. His status for Game 5 in Philadelphia and potentially beyond is unclear. The Raptors managed to hang on and defeat the Sixers in Game 4, trimming the series deficit to 3-1.
VanVleet finished with five points, two rebounds and three assists in nearly 15 minutes, shooting 2-of-6 from the floor. Toronto received impressive performances from Pascal Siakam (34 points) and Gary Trent Jr. (24 points) in his absence.
VanVleet also didn’t return to the Raptors’ bench after suffering the injury. He’s coming off the first All-Star campaign of his career, averaging 20.3 points and 6.7 assists per game on 40% shooting.
whats the point of Barnes coming back. Toronto would be better off just taking the L and focusing on next season
NO. Every playoff game experience is invaluable for young player’s development.
By that logic, why are the Raptors even bothering to still play?
If there’s a team that can squander a 3-0 lead, it’s one led by perennial playoff chokers Doc Rivers, Joel Embiid, and James Harden. The Raps still have a lot to play for.
just objectively wrong about Embiid but okay.
How am I “objectively wrong”? He’s one of the best players in the league but has never made it out of the second round.
Does it matter go past the second round? Really?
One of the best players I have seen in the last 40 years, even played in TOR, he never went beyond the first round, he is a HoF, a true legend T-Mac… a real winner!
But the good thing about NBA is that not all stars can win!
I didn’t realize hallucinogens were also legal in Canada.
What’s Embiid’s most memorable playoff moment? Crying after the Kawhi buzzer beater.
No team in NBA history has lost from a 3-0 lead.
76ers have home court. They’re not losing this series.
Book it!
Embiid needs to be at full strength to beat Raptors
There is enough help for him to secure one win if he can give a little. But if he injures himself further to be out entirely, that could become epic as all bets are off.
Regardless, he’s not going to heal quickly enough to be the force needed to get through a second round. It’s a shame the gifted big guy can’t avoid the injury plague at the most inopportune moments, but the curse of being able to do so much is perhaps that you push yourself to do too much.
Embiid needs to rest 2 games
Game 4 and 5
Embiid is injured
76ers did not give him the better bench than Heat
Why?
He hasn’t been the thru 4 games friend and the Sixers finish the series in 5 at home Monday.
Anyone else ever get tired of hearing stupid fan takes? Like fire that person he sucks, give up quit all the good ones choke artist give me a break. All of these guys 98% of them are out there trying their best. Rest of us are just fat guys giving our opinions
I still am amazed that FVV went undrafted. I wanted the Celtics to pounce in the second round but Ainge took Abdel Nader instead. In other drafts I wanted the Celtics to take Jamal Murray over Jaylen Brown, Jordan Poole rather than Romeo Langford, Bobby Portis instead of Terry Rozier. As far as Murray is concerned, knee injuries can happen to any player at any time. That said, Murray is a better shooter than Brown.
Rank players in this draft, BEFORE IT HAPPENS. You have a month or so.