The Toronto Raptors are expected to get their franchise player back against a formidable opponent.
After missing Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to personal reasons, Scottie Barnes is not on the injury report and is expected to return on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Meanwhile, Jakob Poeltl will sit out against the Western-Conference leading Thunder – the first of back-to-back games for the Raptors – to manage the lower back strain he returned from on Feb. 11.
Toronto hosts the West’s second-placed team, the San Antonio Spurs, on Wednesday.
Barnes is averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks through 55 games this season.
The 24-year-old is now a two-time all-star, and leads the Raptors in rebounds, steals, blocks and minutes per game, while ranking second in points and assists. The defensive anchor also leads the NBA in stocks (steals + blocks) this season with 159.
Poeltl, 30, is averaging 9.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists over 24 games, and missed 24 straight games due to the back injury starting in mid-December.
The seven-foot centre has been dealing with the issue since training camp in September and his production has taken a significant dip in the process. Since returning prior to the all-star break, he’s averaged only 20.7 minutes, 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
The Raptors will also be without two-way players Chucky Hepburn, Alijah Martin and A.J. Lawson; and without Jonathan Mogbo, all of whom are with Toronto’s G League affiliate, the Raptors 905.