Game Thread: Toronto Raptors vs. Phoenix Suns scrimmage

Who’s ready for some afternoon hoops? I am! Barely.

I haven’t written one of these game threads in four-plus months, and I’m a little rusty. I have to be honest, I literally had to look up the Suns roster just now because I couldn’t remember who was on this team. I totally forgot they had Ricky Rubio and Dario Saric! Frank Kaminsky is on this team? Cam Payne!?

(The Suns also haven’t updated their gameday report since March, so I’m not the only one forgetting things, it seems.)

Speaking of Saric, the Suns just announced that he’s out today with a sore ankle.

For the Raptors, we know what we’re dealing with here: A mostly healthy roster, and today we’ll mostly be looking to ensure continued good health going into the seeding games. The team is short two players; one is Patrick McCaw, dealing with an as-yet undisclosed reoccurring injury, and the other is Oshae Brissett, who is “banged up,” according to Nick Nurse. Everyone else is available and should play, Nurse says.

While the Raptors have a playoff spot sewn up and are looking at health and conditioning as priorities right now, the Suns have a really, reaaaalllly outside chance to make the playoffs, and will need to get off to a good start once the real games begin. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more of a sense of urgency from them, than from the Raptors, today.

Where to Watch:

TSN at 3:00 p.m. EST

Lineups:

Toronto — Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol

Phoenix — Ricky Rubio, Devin Booker, Miles Bridges, Deandre Ayton, Cameron Johnson

Injuries:

Toronto — Patrick McCaw (“reoccurring injury” — out), Oshae Brissett (“banged up” — out)

Phoenix — Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee — out), Aron Baynes (COVID-19/quarantine — out), Elie Okobo (quarantine — questionable); Dario Saric (ankle — out)