Game Thread: Toronto Raptors vs. Sacramento Kings

After a full weekend off, the Raptors are back in action to close out their season-long seven-game homestand tonight as the Sacramento Kings come into town.

Toronto remains afflicted by a combination of the injury bug and COVID protocols, as the team is still down OG Anunoby and Khem Birch for the “foreseeable future,” and as Nick Nurse noted in his pre-game availability, the foreseeable future is not some sort of Nurse-ism meaning “close” or “soon,” which is less than ideal.

Precious Achiuwa also remains out as he’s in the league’s COVID protocols. Speaking of which, asked about the Raptors’ postponed Thursday game against the Bulls in Toronto, Nurse noted the team added a pair of practice days to the schedule — something that’s perpetually in short supply during the grind of the NBA season. It’s nice to look for silver linings as the NBA and world at large teeter on the edge of the Omicron cliff.

The last time Toronto and Sacramento met, the Raptors waxed the Kings 108-89 on the second night of a back-to-back, as Pascal Siakam dropped 32 points on 10-of-12 shooting. Anunoby missed that game as well, though Achiuwa and Birch both played.

The Kings come in 11-16, good enough for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference, which is kind of ass, and are losers of two-straight — one to the COVID-stricken Hornets skeleton crew, and the second to the Cavs, which, fair. Here’s what you need to know ahead of what should be a winnable game for Toronto.

Where to Watch

TSN 4 & 5 @ 7pm ET

Injuries

Sacramento — Richaun Holmes (eye — OUT)

Toronto — OG Anunoby (hip — OUT), Khem Birch (knee — OUT), Precious Achiuwa (health & safety protocols — OUT), Goran Dragic (personal — OUT), David Johnson (calf — OUT)

Lineups

Sacramento — De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley, Alex Len

Toronto — Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Chris Boucher