Toronto Raptors: Stock Take, injuries force to Hollis-Jefferson step up

Lowry, Ibaka, and Anunoby

The easiest place to start, in all honesty, even if it isn’t the most ideal scenario. Injuries happen for teams. They are, sadly, an unpredictable certainty in the world of basketball – or in any sport for that matter.

At some point in the season, someone is likely going to get injured on your team. However, three injuries in the space of three games are something a little more unusual – especially when it’s three of your best players.

It started on Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, and Kyle Lowry was the first to face an issue when trying to swat away the ball for a steal, making contact with his own thumb and coming off badly. Luckily, it wasn’t related to a previous injury and Lowry will be evaluated next week, but losing your starting point guard is less than ideal.

Less than a quarter later and Serge Ibaka was the next player to go down. Unfortunately, this one looked a little more severe. Ibaka came down awkwardly, landing on Anunoby’s heel and spraining his ankle. He’ll likely miss more time than Lowry, but hopefully not too much. The bench had survived on Ibaka’s energy up until that point in the season.

The final nail in the proverbial coffin was the injury to OG Anunoby in the first two minutes of Monday night’s loss to the Clippers. A stray Kawhi Leonard hand caught Anunoby in the eye when attempting to steal the ball, which led to Anunoby bleeding from his right eye. It went down as a right eye contusion, but the layman’s terminology is that looked nasty.

Injuries are a part of the game and can rarely if ever, be avoided, but it doesn’t make it any easier when you lose three crucial players in the space of three games. The Raptors will have to survive for now, but it won’t be easy.

Hopefully all can make quick recoveries and be back on the court in no time, but this is a huge blow.

VERDICT: STOCK DOWN