:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69208814/1308988653.0.jpg)
Though they’ve recently brought most of their roster back together, the Toronto Raptors are running out of time to make any playoff aspirations a reality. Two games back of the Wizards in the ten seed with just ten games left in the regular season, the next three games may be the breaking point during a tough finish to Toronto’s schedule.
Tonight, they get the Nuggets, who are missing the presence of Jamal Murray after a season-ending injury, but still present plenty of firepower with MVP front-runner Nikola Jokic and burgeoning star Michael Porter Jr. Denver seems pretty well locked into the four seed in the West, but would probably still prefer to move up and avoid the Lakers in the first round.
The Raptors won’t be at full strength tonight, unfortunately. The team has decided to give Fred VanVleet the night off for injury recovery, as he continues to come back from a hip injury (and recently talked about his exhaustion following Toronto’s most recent back-to-back). Malachi Flynn takes his spot in the starting lineup.
Fred VanVleet is out tonight due to his left hip ("injury recovery," the new load management). Jalen Harris is available we the north.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) April 29, 2021
No Denver report yet on B2B.
For more on tonight’s game, check out this morning’s preview. Here are the full details.
Where to Watch
Sportsnet, 9 PM ET
Lineups
Toronto — Malachi Flynn, Kyle Lowry, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Khem Birch
Denver — PJ Dozier, Facundo Campazzo, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Injuries
Toronto — Fred VanVleet (hip injury recovery — OUT), Chris Boucher (knee – OUT), Gary Trent Jr. (leg contusion – OUT), Paul Watson (knee – OUT)
Denver — Jamal Murray (knee – OUT), Will Barton (hamstring – OUT), Monte Morris (hamstring – OUT)