Raptors’ RJ Barrett stays out in opposition to Bucks, Poeltl listed as possible

Regardless of beginning to take part in return-to-play actions on Monday, Barrett has been dominated out for the Raptors’ sport in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, the crew introduced on Wednesday.

In the meantime, Jakob Poeltl is listed as possible for the sport resulting from lower-back damage administration that has induced him to be out and in of the lineup for a lot of the season.

Barrett, 25, has missed the Raptors’ final 9 video games since sustaining a proper knee sprain in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 23. He acquired a platelet-rich plasma injection final week.

The Raptors have gone chilly since Barrett went down, dropping six of 10, with all these losses coming in a seven-game span.

The Mississauga, Ont., native had a powerful begin to his season earlier than being sidelined with averages of 19.4 factors, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 30.9 minutes in 17 video games.

Poeltl, 30, has struggled whereas coping with the again damage, producing averages of 10.1 factors, 8.3 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks, all under his common contributions in latest seasons.

In the meantime, it was introduced on Wednesday that Jonathan Mogbo was assigned to the Raptors 905, Toronto’s G League affiliate and also will be out for Thursday’s contest in opposition to the Bucks. The transfer offers the 905 one in every of their high forwards again as they appear to proceed a record-setting good begin on the G League Winter Showcase in Orlando.

Mogbo has been a key contributor for the 905, averaging 14.7 factors, 6.8 rebounds and a couple of.8 assists whereas enjoying in 12 of the crew’s 14 video games this season. The 24-year-old sophomore is averaging 1.2 factors, 1.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 4.5 minutes per sport throughout 11 NBA contests in 2024-25.

The 905 set a G League report by going undefeated within the Tip-Off match portion of the schedule, an ideal 14-0.

Mogbo has been a catalyst for that effort, overwhelming opponents on the defensive finish, averaging 1.9 steals and 1.3 blocks whereas serving to lead the 905 to a league-best 102 defensive score.

It stands to motive that Mogbo will stay with the 905 in the course of the Showcase Cup, nevertheless, the Raptors even have three video games in 4 days throughout the match, two of that are on the street.

The Winter Showcase is a fruits of the G League’s 14-game Tip-Off Event, the place the highest eight groups advance to compete for the Showcase Cup. The showcase additionally offers a chance for entrance workplace workers from across the NBA to assemble in a single place and scout potential additions to their rosters, earlier than each groups data are reset for a 34-game common season.