The Toronto Raptors are preparing to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night, but they will be doing so with a shorthanded roster. Sitting at 11th in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors have seemingly shifted their focus toward next year's draft, prioritizing player development and roster evaluation as they continue their rebuild.
Their opponent, the 76ers, is also enduring a rough stretch, and with both teams outside the playoff picture, the game is unlikely to have a major impact on draft positioning. Philadelphia trails Toronto by 3.5 games, meaning a win or loss will do little to change their top-six protected draft pick aspirations.
While several key players are out for Toronto, the team announced via its latest injury report that RJ Barrett will return after a one-game absence.
The Raptors were already dealing with multiple injuries, with Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and Umrich Cholmche all sidelined. However, the team has now announced that Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl will also sit out Sunday's matchup for rest purposes, further depleting the squad.
Quickley, who has been dealing with injuries all season, has played in only 30 games, averaging 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while shooting 42.0% from the field. He has missed four of the last nine games as part of the team's ongoing strategy to manage player workloads.
The Raptors have ruled Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl out for tomorrow's game in Philadelphia due to rest.
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) March 29, 2025
Poeltl has also seen limited action in recent weeks, missing five of the last 11 games as the team carefully manages his minutes. The veteran center has been a consistent presence for Toronto, averaging 14.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 55 games this season.
With both teams looking ahead to the offseason, Sunday's game will likely serve as a testing ground for younger talent and an opportunity for Toronto to evaluate its future core pieces.
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This story was originally published March 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM.