Raptors face Magic without Kawhi Leonard, Orlando missing Banchero and Suggs
The Toronto Raptors will be without Kawhi Leonard due to knee swelling as they host an Orlando Magic team missing Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs.
TORONTO · The Toronto Raptors will face their first Eastern Conference test of the season without Kawhi Leonard on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic. Leonard is expected to miss a period of weeks due to swelling in his left knee, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The Raptors will also be without their star forward for their next game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Orlando enters the game severely short-handed, missing Paolo Banchero due to an ankle sprain for four to six weeks and Jalen Suggs with a bone bruise for at least two weeks.
The Raptors are 1-1 without Leonard this season, having lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 25 after a season-opening win over the Washington Wizards. Leonard's absence presents an early challenge for a team looking to establish itself in the conference. His history with knee issues includes missing the first 34 games of the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers due to swelling in his other knee. The longest stretch Leonard missed during his 2018-19 stint in Toronto was four consecutive games.
Toronto's performance without Leonard will be closely watched, recalling the 2019 championship team that went 17-5 in games he missed. Ten of those 2019 victories came against Eastern Conference opponents, though nine were against non-playoff teams. The Raptors' five losses without Leonard that season all came against Eastern Conference playoff teams. The team finished the calendar year 2018 with a 7-2 record without Leonard.
Scottie Barnes, who had 28 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Washington, will be relied upon to lead the offence in Leonard's absence. Garbutt Disposal reported last week that Barnes led the Raptors past the Wizards for their first 2-0 start since 2019. The game offers a measuring stick for both teams, who finished only one game apart in last season's standings and each took their first-round playoff opponents to six games. Up next: The Raptors host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.
With files from Yahoo Sports