The Toronto Raptors are set to take on the Dallas Mavericks this evening at Scotiabank Arena, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.
In the 2024-25 NBA season so far, the narratives for the Raptors and Mavericks have been strikingly different. Last season, the Dallas Mavericks advanced to the 2024 NBA Finals, facing off against the Boston Celtics, but were ultimately defeated in a five-game series.
The Mavericks displayed a formidable performance last season, exceeding expectations, and they aim to continue that momentum as they move into this year.
The Dallas Mavericks currently hold a record of 15-8, placing them in the 3rd seed in the NBA's Western Conference.
The Dallas Mavericks have been trending upward and remain one of the NBA's premier teams, even during the stretch where superstar Luka Doncic was sidelined due to injury. Remarkably, they maintained an impressive 5-1 record in his absence.
On the other hand, the Toronto Raptors have faced numerous injuries to both key stars and role players, significantly affecting their competitiveness in many games. As of now, the Toronto Raptors sit in the 12th seed in the NBA's Eastern Conference, boasting a record of 7-16.
As the Raptors prepare for a tough matchup against the Mavericks, let's take a closer look at the injury reports for both teams. What are the latest updates on the roster members who have been sidelined?
Who's in and who's out for both the Raptors and Mavericks?
Toronto has issued three recent updates regarding the statuses of their injured players, as reported by Raptors NBA Beat Reporter Josh Lewenberg.
Canadian stretch forward/center Kelly Olynyk has been sidelined for the entire season so far, but the Raptors have updated his status to questionable for their matchup against the Mavericks on December 7.
As for Jakob Poeltl, the team's starting center who sat out their December 5 OKC matchup due to illness, he's been listed as questionable also.
Another addition has emerged on the Raptors' injury report, as tenacious point guard Davion Mitchell is now listed as questionable due to "right hip stiffness".
Immanuel Quickley and Bruce Brown remain out for Toronto, despite some recent optimism for the return of Toronto's resident cowboy.
In the latest injury report for the Mavericks, two players are facing challenges ahead of the game.
Guard Jaden Hardy is listed as doubtful with a right ankle sprain, while forward Naji Marshall has been ruled out due to illness. This information was reported by Grant Asfeth of DallasHoopsJournal.com.
The comprehensive final report is as follows:
Toronto Raptors
Player | Injury Status |
|---|---|
Bruce Brown | Out (Reconditioning) |
Immanuel Quickley | Out (Elbow) |
Jakob Poeltl | Questionable (Illness) |
Kelly Olynyk | Questionable (Back) |
Davion Mitchell | Questionable (Hip) |
Dallas Mavericks
Player | Injury Status |
|---|---|
Dante Exum | Out (Right Wrist Surgery) |
Kessler Edwards | Out (G League, Two-Way) |
Brandon Williams | Out (G League, Two-Way) |
Jaden Hardy | Doubtful (Ankle) |
Naji Marshall | Out (Illness) |
On a positive note, fans of both teams can look forward to an exciting showdown featuring star players Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, who will face off against Toronto's dynamic duo, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. All four players are expected to be in action on December 7.