The Toronto Raptors will rest Jakob Poeltl against the Washigton Wizards tonight, per TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.
Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo and Brandon Ingram remain out as well.
The Raptors lost in heartbreaking fashion the last time they played the Wizards on March 8. It appeared Jamal Shead hit the game-winner, but after further review he did not get the ball out of his hands in time.
The Raptors lost an important “tanking” game to the Wizards as they keep a slim cushion for the 5th worst record in the reverse standings.
Sitting out Poeltl for this game will be significant because the Raptors are a far worse team without him. The Raptors in Poeltl’s last 4 games are +37 in 96 minutes with him and -45 in 96 minutes without him. Without Poeltl, the Raptors will be at a clear disadvantage as he is an important player on both ends of the floor.
Last game against the Wizards, Darko Rajakovic decided to sit out key starters in Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Poeltl for most of the fourth quarter. He closed the game with a lineup of Shead, Jared Rhoden, A.J. Lawson, Colin Castleton and Orlando Robinson so the same could play out in this contest.
Toronto has the easiest remaining schedule left so if they are serious about their draft lottery positioning, they will need to find a way to tank hard down the stretch.
Barnes, Barrett and Immanuel Quickley will go in this one so it’ll be interesting to see how much of an impact they have on this game early on before Rajakovic potentially pulls them late.
Jamal Shead ‘moving on’ after potential game-winner overturned
Toronto Raptors rookie Jamal Shead experienced heartbreak against the Washington Wizards on March 8.
Shead found himself with the ball to win the game and many thought he got a game-winner. The 22-year-old made a high scoop layup off the glass just as time expired.
Unfortunately, the referees reviewed the play and the ball was in Shead’s fingertips as time expired.
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