The injury bug that first afflicted the Raptors‘ All-Star point guard is now affecting their All-NBA forward as well. As Dave Feschuk of The Toronto Star details, Pascal Siakam left Friday’s loss to Dallas in the third quarter due to a strained groin and didn’t return to the game. Toronto was already missing Fred VanVleet, who was sidelined for a third straight game due to lower back soreness.
While the Raptors have yet to issue an update on the severity of Siakam’s injury, they’re optimistic that VanVleet’s absence won’t last much longer.
“We had practice (Thursday), he went through full practice. I thought he’d probably be going tonight,” Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said before Friday’s game. “I’m expecting him back pretty soon.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Knicks veteran wing Evan Fournier was displaced from the starting lineup on Friday and played a season-low 14 minutes, but he’s taking it in a stride, says Peter Botte of The New York Post. “We see it every year,” Fournier said of the lineup shake-up. “Last year with Kemba (Walker). So I’m going to do the best with what I have, try to impact winning and be a good teammate. That’s all you can ask for. Just do my best. Be a pro and take it from there…By doing your job.”
- Quentin Grimes‘ ascension to the starting lineup didn’t affect Cam Reddish‘s role. As Zach Braziller of The New York Post writes, Reddish – who is in a contract year – scored 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting in 15 minutes and was a plus-19 in a two-point win over Philadelphia. “He was very good,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Overall hustle, length, running the floor, moving without the ball, a lot of good plays.”
- Rich Hofmann of The Athletic and Tim Bontemps of ESPN both consider what the new few weeks in Philadelphia will look like with Sixers star James Harden sidelined due to a foot injury. The club was also missing Joel Embiid on Friday, as the star center missed a third consecutive game due to a non-COVID illness.
- In case you missed it, we rounded up several Nets-related items earlier this morning.
The Sixers might stink this year
IMO
76ers won’t make playoffs if Harden and Embiid play less than 65 games each this season
If making playoffs, 76ers won’t beat Bucks, Cavs or Celtics in the first round
They should target next season by making big trade now
Looks like the Process has failed
Knicks get Harris and Thybulle
76ers get Randle. Fournier and 2023 First
End up with top 2 pick
IMO
Embiid and Harden turn out to be damaged goods in 2024 playoffs
Trade now
LOL, good luck on that
Process was over way back when Hinkie got fired
There were some Malingerers
You must be a bot. It’s a long season and in case you haven’t noticed,the injury bug is hitting all teams early and often. Let’s wait until the dust settles before we pass judgment on the injury riddled Sixers and by the way knucklehead golden state warriors.
It’s not shocking given both Embiid and Harden are out, but the Sixers really are in a tough spot. What scares me is Harden’s injury potentially being used an excuse to save Doc’s job.
Cam Reddish should be starting in NYK. OKC/Presti should sign him to a 4yr $60-65M offer sheet this summer. His length & overall floor game would be a perfect fit for what they been building
Well, he would be a huge upgrade over the likes of Dortz and Bazley, imo.
Dort is like top 3 perimeter defender in the league.
How do you figure that? Bazley plays a completely dif position & Dort has been great. Reddish, J-Dub & Dort would be a pretty great wing trio for the next 5+ yrs tbh
We see it every year. Knicks GM and Coach never spoke once about roster construction. Every move they make is never aligned with Thibs’ “plan”… which really is no plan at all, because he can’t develop players.