The Toronto Raptors will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder following one of the wildest NBA Trade Deadlines is NBA history.
There were 63 players moved before the trade deadline buzzer, including Brandon Ingram who was traded to Toronto. Ingram is in Oklahoma City with the team, but he will not play as there is no set timetable for his return from an ankle injury.
Jakob Poeltl (hip) and RJ Barrett (concussion protocol) will be out for this game as well. Immanuel Quickley will play after missing last game due to injury management.
The Raptors have cooled off after their best stretch of the season that saw them win 7 of 8 games and boast the league’s best defense during that span. The team has since lost 3 of their last 4 games and got blown out in their last contest 138-107 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Raptors will turn to their rookies for this one. Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter and Jonathan Mogbo have all seen extended playing time in the last couple of games and they are expected to see a lot more playing time down the stretch. The Thunder will see the return of Chet Holmgren in this game. He will be in the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 10. He will join MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander has been on an absolute tear lately. Over his last 10 games, he is averaging 38.4 points, 6.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks while hitting 57.8 percent of his shots from the field.
As expected the Raptors enter this game as heavy underdogs. The Thunder are favored by 19.5 points. We’ll see if the Raptors can keep this a respectable game.
Toronto Raptors (16-35) vs. Oklahoma city Thunder (40-9)
8:00 p.m. EST, Friday, February 7, 2025
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TV: Sportsnet
Projected Raptors Starting Lineup:
PG: Immanuel Quickley
SG: Gradey Dick
SF: Ja’Kobe Walter
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Jonathan Mogbo
Key Reserves: Jamal Shead, Ochai Agbaji, Chris Boucher
Projected Thunder Starting Lineup:
PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG: Aaron Wiggins
SF: Lu Dort
PF: Jalen Williams
C: Chet Holmgren
Key Reserves: Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Joe
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