The Toronto Raptors could see Kelly Olynyk return against the Dallas Mavericks.
Olynyk has been listed as questionable for Saturday night’s game. If he plays, this be Olynyk’s season debut. He’s been out all season with a back injury he suffered during the preseason.
Once he returns, the 33-year-old will slide into Toronto’s frontcourt rotation and will backup Jakob Poeltl. The Raptors need some center depth so having Olynyk back in the mix will be huge. Olynyk will also give the Raptors some much needed three-point shooting and playmaking from off the bench.
Last season, Olynyk averaged 12.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from three with Toronto. He signed a two-year, $26.3 million contract extension with the Raptors in March.
The Raptors center depth chart will get more clarity with Olynyk healthy again. Bruno Fernando will move back to a reserve role once Poeltl and Olynyk are in the rotation. The Raptors have also been experimenting with their rookie second-round pick Jonathan Mogbo as a small-ball center.
Poeltl is questionable as well against Dallas after he missed Thursday’s game against the Thunder due to illness. It was Poeltl’s first missed game of the season. The Raptors started Fernando at center but then started Mogbo to begin the second-half.
Raptors guard Davion Mitchell has popped up on the team’s injury report as he is questionable to play with a hip injury. If Mitchell doesn’t suit up, Jamal Shead will be the primary backup point guard for this game.
Bruce Brown (knee) and Immanuel Quickley (elbow) have been ruled out against the Mavericks.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on RJ Barrett thriving with Raptors
The Toronto Raptors hosted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.
It wasn’t the competitive matchup fans were hoping for, but it was still a spectacle to see Gilgeous-Alexander play in front of his hometown crowd.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander talked about his Team Canada teammate RJ Barrett thriving with Toronto this season.
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