The Toronto Raptors will continue to be shorthanded when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.
Gradey Dick remains questionable for Toronto. However, Dick appears to be close to a return and if he doesn’t play against the Thunder he should be ready to go for Saturday night. Dick has missed Toronto’s last five games as he continues to work his way back from a calf injury he suffered on Nov. 24 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Raptors have ruled out their rookie sharpshooter Jamison Battle as the organization has sent him on a G League assignment with the Raptors 905. Toronto leveraged Battle’s three-point shooting from off the bench in Dick’s absence. Battle being sent down to the Raptors 905 suggests Dick’s return is imminent.
The Raptors will continue to be without Bruce Brown (knee), Kelly Olynyk (back) and Immanuel Quickley (elbow). There has been no timetable set for either of them. There was speculation that Brown was going to make his season debut at some point during the Raptors four-game road trip but that never happened. Meanwhile, Olynyk has missed the entire season so far with back spasms. As for Quickley, he will likely miss a couple of more weeks with a UCL sprain. He seems to be the furthest from returning to the court as Quickley has still not been cleared to do on-court activities with his left hand.
The Raptors will try and make it three wins in a row when they take on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Western Conference leading Thunder.
Darko Rajakovic praises Scottie Barnes’ career-high performance
Scottie Barnes has been remarkable for the Toronto Raptors.
Since returning from his orbital fracture injury, the 23-year-old is averaging 23.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.0 steal with a 68.4 true shooting percentage.
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