Raptors Injury Update: Barrett Finds Rhythm, Fultz Gets G League Audition
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Toronto forward RJ Barrett appears to be shaking off the effects of a knee injury that sidelined him for nearly two months. The 23-year-old logged a season-best 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting in Sunday’s win over Dallas and said the lingering pain has subsided, allowing him to rebuild his conditioning.
“A couple of weeks ago it didn’t look great,” Barrett said postgame. “Just got to continue to work through it.”
Over his last six outings, Barrett is averaging 21.7 points and six rebounds while hitting 56.7% from the field and 46.7% from three-point range. Teammate Scottie Barnes praised Barrett’s renewed aggressiveness: “Once he gets his stuff going, he’s pretty hard to guard, especially going downhill.”
Fultz tests waters with Raptors 905
Markelle Fultz, claimed off waivers last week by Raptors 905, posted four points and five assists in his G League debut on Sunday. According to team sources, the former No. 1 overall pick is being evaluated for Toronto’s lone open roster slot, which the club can begin filling on March 15. No guarantees have been given, but management views Fultz as a potential low-cost late-season addition.
Injury list grows
Forward Collin Murray-Boyles will miss the upcoming road trip to Houston and New Orleans with a left-thumb injury, while center Trayce Jackson-Davis is out for Tuesday’s game after dislocating his left middle finger during pre-game warm-ups. “I hit my finger on the rim perfectly,” Jackson-Davis said. “I looked down and almost started laughing.”
Struggles versus elite competition
The Raptors’ record against upper-tier opponents remains a concern as they jockey for playoff positioning. Toronto is 1-12 at home when facing teams with superior records and has dropped 14 of its past 15 games against clubs currently in the league’s top 10. “We’ve got to figure out our fourth-quarter execution,” forward Brandon Ingram said. “The good thing is we’re in the games, but we’ve got to figure out how to finish.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
