Raptors Hopeful Poeltl Can Return Before Break; Injury Roundup on Murray-Boyles, White, Wagner, McBride, Duren
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Toronto, ON — Center Jakob Poeltl, sidelined since Dec. 21 with back problems, is progressing well in his rehab and could play before the All-Star break, according to Sportsnet’s Blake Murphy. The Raptors have two games remaining before the break—Sunday against Indiana and next Wednesday against Detroit—and team officials believe the 7-foot-1 veteran has a realistic chance to suit up in one of them. Poeltl has appeared in only 21 contests this season, a limitation that reportedly hurt Toronto’s trade-deadline efforts to land Domantas Sabonis.
Rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles continues to fight through a left thumb injury that forced him to miss four games in late January. The Raptors expect him to wear a protective wrap for another five weeks, yet he still logged 37 minutes and scored 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting in Thursday’s win over Chicago. “He’s having trouble dribbling the ball, catching the ball, [but] he’s playing through that,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said.
Additional Injury Updates Around the League
Hornets: Newly acquired guard Coby White, 25, is dealing with calf soreness after appearing in 11 of Chicago’s final 12 games before last week’s trade. President of basketball operations Jeff Peterson said Charlotte will proceed cautiously, and White may not debut for the Hornets until after the All-Star break.
Magic: Forward Franz Wagner is “very close” to returning from the left ankle injury that has kept him out since Jan. 18, team president Jeff Weltman said. The third-year pro has missed 24 of Orlando’s past 26 games. The Magic play three more times before the break.
Knicks: Doctors consulted by the New York Post estimate a 12-week recovery for the sports hernia surgery guard Miles McBride is undergoing. Reports Thursday indicated optimism he could be back for the postseason, which starts in roughly 10 weeks.
Pistons: Center Jalen Duren sat out the second half of Thursday’s loss to Washington with right knee soreness that head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said has bothered him “for a little bit.” The team has not determined whether the issue will sideline the 22-year-old beyond Thursday.
Source: Hoops Rumors
