Nick Nurse has encouraging injury update on OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr.

The Toronto Raptors have been weighed down by poor roster construction for most of the season, and their tough injury luck has made things even more difficult for them. Names like OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. have missed time due to wrist and calf injuries, respectively.

On a team that was already lacking depth to begin with, losing one of their starters makes things even more difficult for a squad that is fighting and clawing to get back in the postseason picture. Playing without both of them led to some uneven performances against poor competition.

The Raptors have a somewhat exploitable schedule coming up. Between a banged-up Pelicans team, the lowly Pistons, and a Cavaliers squad that Toronto has given real trouble this season, the Raptors might be able to make up some ground. Nick Nurse said they will have all their heavy hitters back against New Orleans.

Nurse said that Anunoby, Trent, and veteran power forward Thad Young all participated in an evening practice, looking “good, healthy, and ready to go” while they were at it. Nurse believes all three of those players will suit up against the Pelicans on Thursday.

OG Anunoby injury update: Raptors SF returning vs. Pelicans.

While Anunoby’s offense is starting to flatline, he is still leading the NBA in steals per game with 2.1 and putting together a very strong All-Defensive Team case. He’ll likely slide back into the starting lineup alongside new addition Jakob Poeltl, relegating Trent to the bench.

While it remains to be seen what role Trent will have, he should get back to cooking unsuspecting defensive players with nary a sweat broken on his end. On a team that is still lacking in that area following the Poeltl move, Trent’s ability to create for himself will be valued.

Young has slowly worked his way back into the rotation. While he can be an awkward fit in many of Toronto’s lineups, the grizzled veteran is still effective enough at crashing the boards, finding the open man on kick-outs, and playing respectable defense. There’s value in all of those traits.

Nurse has often been playing with one hand tied behind his back due to how limited his roster choices were. Now that Anunoby, Trent, and Young are all back in the fold and the center issue has been solved thanks to Poeltl, Toronto can go on the attack in their postseason push.