Raptors

Nick Nurse discloses statuses of Gary Trent Jr. and Scottie Barnes for crucial Game 3 vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Published by
Jason Simpson

The Toronto Raptors are in a 2-0 hole in their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

If the Raptors want to save their season, something is going to have to change soon, and a victory in Game 3 would be a good place to start.

Game 3 will take place on Wednesday. According to Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, Gary Trent Jr. will play in the contest. Scottie Barnes, meanwhile, also has a chance to play.

The Raptors are obviously hoping to have both players available for the matchup. If the Raptors were to lose Game 3, they’d fall into a 3-0 hole, which is a deficit no team in the NBA has ever come back from.

Trent has been a key player for the Raptors this season. In the regular season, he averaged 18.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from deep.

Barnes, meanwhile, is one of the league’s most exciting rookies. In the regular season, the youngster averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 30.1 percent from deep.

Barnes didn’t play at all for Toronto in Game 2 against the Sixers. In Game 1, he racked up 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists while going 4-for-6 from the field before suffering an ankle injury.

Realistically, the Raptors probably aren’t going to challenge for this season’s title, but they’d surely love to eliminate a team that does have legitimate championship hopes. The Sixers certainly do, and Toronto has a chance to play spoiler.

Jason Simpson

Published by
Jason Simpson

Recent Posts

NBA exec pegs Spurs and Thunder as potential landing spots for Devin Booker

Despite fielding a star-studded roster headlined by Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, the…

4 hours ago

Report: Clippers would block Lakers from talking to Tyronn Lue

The Los Angeles Lakers are in the market for a new head coach after parting…

22 hours ago

Report: LeBron James was unhappy with Lakers’ plan to limit his minutes at start of season

It didn’t take much time at all for the Los Angeles Lakers to abandon their…

22 hours ago

Report: ‘All the signals’ suggest that LeBron James will remain with the Lakers

The future of LeBron James has been among the hottest topics in the NBA for…

22 hours ago

Report: Several Lakers were ‘taken aback’ when Darvin Ham chose to start Taurean Prince

Multiple players on the Los Angeles Lakers were reportedly "taken aback" by Darvin Ham's decision…

2 days ago

NBA legend likes idea of Kevin Durant rejoining Warriors: ‘You go for it for the last 3 years’

Former Boston Celtics star and NBA legend Paul Pierce likes the idea of Phoenix Suns…

2 days ago