Jakob Poeltl not returning against Pacers, but ‘very close’
The Toronto Raptors will face Indiana Pacers to finish the week. Jakob Poeltl missed overtime with a back injury, but was finally listed on the injury report as questionable with a return to contest rehab. While Poeltl has since been sidelined, he is “very close” to a returnaccording to Sportsnet’s Blake Murphy.
Even with his absence, the Raptors are playing well and are one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. If they can get Poeltl back soon, they might be even better.
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)*
Jakob Poeltl’s injury status against the Pacers
When Poeltl was listed as questionable against the Pacers, it was the first time in a while because of his nagging back problems. While he won’t be back for Sunday’s game, it’s a great sign for Toronto that he’s on the verge of getting back on the floor.
The Raptors played small in Poeltl’s absence by inserting rookie Colin Murray-Boyles into the starting lineup. He has played well at the position and Toronto is still winning.
It seemed like the Raptors wanted real interior help and were looking for a center at the trade deadline. Toronto was most linked to Domantas Sabonis at the deadline, but Poeltl’s contract was a sticking point in trade negotiations. There were already rumors that these trade talks could be revisited in the offseason.
There were also rumors that the Raptors wants to buy Walker Kessler within the deadline, but, of course, unsuccessfully. With Kessler a restricted free agent in the offseason, Toronto will still have an opportunity to sign him. However, the Raptors will have to offer a contract that the Utah Jazz aren’t willing to match, and it’s unclear how high that number would be.
It will be interesting to see what the Raptors do in the offseason and if they plan to improve their frontcourt. For now, let’s hope they can get Poeltl back and play in top form.
2026-02-08 15:54:00
