<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-raptors-called-guangdong-dragons-rockets-announcer');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors called ‘Guangdong Dragons’ on live TV by Rockets announcer');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raptors-news-Toronto-called-Guangdong-Dragons-on-live-TV-by-Rockets-announcer.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors called ‘Guangdong Dragons’ on live TV by Rockets announcer</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T22:54:38-08:00">December 22nd, 10:54pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T22:55:38-08:00">December 22nd, 10:55pm</time><address><a>Nathan Yasis</a>Nathan Yasis is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints, specializing in the NBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Rockets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>“The Rockets are victorious tonight against the Guangdong Dragons,” <a href="https://www.twitter.com/CoalitionHoops/status/1871009590567112990" rel="noopener">declared veteran broadcaster</a> Craig Ackerman as the final buzzer sounded. Ackerman, now the voice of Houston’s regional television broadcasts on the Space City Home Network, captured the moment as the Houston Rockets erased a 16-point deficit to secure a 114-110 comeback victory over the Toronto Raptors.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Craig Ackerman (<a href="https://twitter.com/ca_rockets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ca_rockets</a> ) with the greatest closing call I’ve ever heard as a Rockets fan this season. </p><p>If you don’t know, Ackerman was referencing Drakes comment on FVV IG post when he announced he was signing with Houston.</p><p>Life comes at you fast 😎 <a href="https://t.co/fMQykxMm1b">pic.twitter.com/fMQykxMm1b</a></p><p>— E.K. Johnson (@CoalitionHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoalitionHoops/status/1871009590567112990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>When Fred VanVleet departed the Raptors to join the Rockets during the 2023 free agency period, the seasoned point guard shared a heartfelt farewell to Toronto on Instagram. Shortly after, rapper and devoted Raptors supporter <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-drake-hits-fred-vanvleet-with-guangdong-dragons-trolling-after-houston-move">Drake seized the opportunity to playfully poke fun at VanVleet</a> and his new team in the comment section.</p><h2><b>Drake trolling Fred VanVleet on his move to the Houston Rockets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Drake-talking-with-Fred-VanVleet-during-his-stay-with-the-Raptors.jpg"><figcaption>John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>“My look alike … the love is forever,” Drake wrote in the comment section of VanVleet’s post. “Thank you for your character and your contributions over the years. The city will never forget! Good luck with everything on the Guangdong Dragons … I mean, the Rockets.”</p><p>“Relax.” the former Toronto Raptor replied.</p><p>Guangdong, naturally, is a team from China’s professional league. The jab made sense at the time, given Houston’s struggles, including a dismal 22-60 record the previous season and three consecutive years finishing among the NBA’s bottom two teams.</p><p>With the addition of Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, combined with the ongoing development of their young talent, the Rockets have made remarkable strides. They ended the 2023-24 season at an even 41-41 and have carried that progress into the 2024-25 campaign, boasting a 19-9 record. This impressive start positions them third in the Western Conference, trailing the second spot by just half a game.</p><h2><b>The Raptors struggle this season</b></h2><p>Without VanVleet, the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bruce-browns-injury-admission-explains-major-2023-24-raptors-struggles"> Raptors have plummeted</a> to a 7-22 record, placing them among the league’s worst teams. In contrast, during Sunday’s victory in Toronto—VanVleet’s first game back as a visitor after missing last season’s matchup due to injury—Houston’s broadcast team couldn’t resist delivering some playful trolling of their own as the final seconds expired.</p><p>VanVleet had a quiet performance in the game, recording 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and just 2 points while shooting a cold 1-for-10 (10.0%). After the game, head coach Ime Udoka suggested that VanVleet might have experienced some “jitters” during his first game back in Toronto as a visiting player.</p><p>Ultimately, VanVleet secured what mattered most — a victory. With some help from Houston’s broadcast team, he likely also relished a lighthearted moment at Drake’s expense.</p><p>To acknowledge VanVleet’s return, the Raptors organization showed their respect with a pregame “welcome back” message outside Houston’s locker room, followed by a tribute video during the game.</p><p>Fred VanVleet had already earned significant wealth during his career before joining the Houston Rockets, but his most recent contract has raised the bar. Valued at $130 million, it stands as the highest contract ever secured by an undrafted player in NBA history.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors called ‘Guangdong Dragons’ on live TV by Rockets announcer

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rockets-news-fred-vanvleet-eye-opening-take-raptors-fans-toronto-return');   ga('set', 'title', 'Fred VanVleet shares eye-opening take on Raptors fans in Toronto return');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1128.jpeg"></figure><h1>Fred VanVleet shares eye-opening take on Raptors fans in Toronto return</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T19:41:30-08:00">December 22nd, 7:41pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T08:28:58-08:00">December 23rd, 8:28am</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet is a revered name in Toronto. He was a key member of the Toronto Raptors team that won the 2019 NBA championship, which is the only title in their franchise’s history. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ex-raptor-fred-vanvleet-reacts-to-torontos-awesome-tribute-in-return">VanVleet made his annual return to Toronto</a> against the Raptors as an opponent with the Rockets on Sunday night, and he had only <a href="https://x.com/JLew1050/status/1871015223722983842" rel="noopener">good things to say</a> about the fans, as per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports.</p><p>“This crowd, given the season that you guys are having, for them to be out there cheering and still showing up on a nightly basis, this is a special place for basketball,” VanVleet said.</p><p>The Raptors are currently 7-22 and only ahead of the league-worst 4-22 Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference standings. This was VanVleet’s first game against the Raptors on the court, as he missed last season’s matchup due to injury.</p><p>He didn’t shoot particularly well, finishing with only two points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field and 0-of-5 shooting from three-point range. But he did contribute eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 38 minutes.</p><p>VanVleet was honored with a tribute video on Sunday in his return, and <a href="https://x.com/JLew1050/status/1871015035171979468" rel="noopener">he also reflected on</a> what Raptors fans have meant to him.</p><p>“This place is a special place for me,” Fred VanVleet said. “I always think about what it means to me and my family but I never think about what I mean to other people until I get here, so that’s always a blessing and something that I never take for granted.”</p><p>This season though, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/fred-vanvleet-fueling-rockets-early-season-success">VanVleet has been a key part of a Rockets’ turnaround</a> that has them as one of the top teams in the Western Conference. He’s appeared in 25 games coming into Sunday, averaging a little over 35 minutes per game.</p><p>VanVleet had been averaging 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.5 steals with splits of 37.7 percent shooting from the field, 30.3 percent shooting from the three-point line, and 80.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Fred VanVleet shares eye-opening take on Raptors fans in Toronto return

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-who-must-be-traded-soon');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors who must be traded soon');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1124.jpeg"></figure><h1>Raptors who must be traded soon</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T18:35:46-08:00">December 22nd, 6:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T18:35:46-08:00">December 22nd, 6:35pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In the months leading up to the NBA trade deadline, the Toronto Raptors are certainly going to be a team to keep an eye on. As a team in the midst of a rebuild, the Raptors definitely appear to be a team that is poised to be sellers. But that might not be the case. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-raptors-potential-trade-deadline-buyer">Raptors could emerge as potential buyers on the trade market</a>. In any case, the Raptors have a couple of players on the team that they must trade ahead of the NBA trade deadline.</p><p>When the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-raptors-pelicans-three-team-trade">Raptors opted to trade Pascal Siakam</a> last season, that pretty much signaled their intent to rebuild. That move was actually proceeded by their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/what-knicks-getting-og-anunoby-trade-what-comes-next">trade with the New York Knicks involving OG Anunoby</a>. The Raptors made it clear their desire to build around Scottie Barnes as the franchise centerpiece.</p><p>The front office has managed to add other young talent to their core such as RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Gradey Dick. Amid rumors that they could be in the hunt for another impact talent at the trade deadline, the Raptors must still look to offload a couple of players via trade.</p><h2><b>Raptors could move Bruce Brown<br></b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1125.jpeg"><figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After Bruce Brown played a key role on the 2023 Denver Nuggets championship team, he became a highly sought after free agent. The Nuggets were unable to re-sign him and he ended up joining the Indiana Pacers. But the Pacers shipped him off to the Toronto Raptors by the trade deadline and he’s a candidate to be moved again.</p><p>Brown has yet to make his 2024-25 season debut as he’s been sidelined due to knee surgery and <a href="https://x.com/BlakeMurphyODC/status/1870540676448063626" rel="noopener">he still remains out</a> as he continues his conditioning. Although he hasn’t yet been cleared to play, he is supposed to be able to return to the lineup this season.</p><p>Brown is a quality veteran who can help a few contending teams. The Nuggets would certainly benefit from him still being on the roster. Aside from being a veteran mentor of sorts, Brown doesn’t quite fit with the Raptors’ current roster. And his contract expires this offseason so he’s likely gone one way or another.</p><p>He doesn’t have a place in the rotation and the Raptors must look hard into moving him by the NBA trade deadline.</p><h2><b>Raptors could move Chris Boucher<br></b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1126.jpeg"><figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The lone remaining member of the 2019 championship team, Boucher has been having a resurgent season. He’s spent the entirety of his NBA career with the Raptors save for the 2017-18 season when he appeared in one game for the Golden State Warriors.</p><p>For the most part, Boucher has been a key rotation player for the Raptors in the seasons following the 2019 title run. But last year, he suffered an MCL injury that cut his season short. This year though, he’s taken advantage of the injury to Kelly Olynyk and has emerged as a key reserve big man.</p><p>Boucher has appeared in 25 games for the Raptors this season at a little over 18 minutes per game. He’s been averaging 9.7 points and 4.6 rebounds with splits of 44.9 percent shooting from the field and 75 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Olynyk has since returned to the lineup, but the Raptors have Jakob Poeltl dealing with a groin injury now. The Raptors also have Jonathan Mogbo who fits the team’s future timeline better. When Poeltl returns, Boucher could find himself out of the rotation. The Raptors must look into moving him as well at the NBA trade deadline. Boucher can certainly help a contender looking for big man depth.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors who must be traded soon

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-raptors-potential-trade-deadline-buyer');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Raptors lurking as potential sneaky trade deadline buyer');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NBA-rumors-Raptors-lurking-as-potential-sneaky-trade-deadline-buyer.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Raptors lurking as potential sneaky trade deadline buyer</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T18:33:51-08:00">December 20th, 6:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T18:33:51-08:00">December 20th, 6:33pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Toronto Raptors are mired in a rebuild with several players on their roster that could potentially be shipped out in a trade by the deadline; players that would benefit contending teams. But just because they are rebuilding, doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t look to add impact talent. In fact, the Raptors <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/latest-jimmy-butler-zach-lavine-nba-trade-rumors-siegels-scoop">could end up being buyers</a> on the trade market leading up to the deadline, as per ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel.</p><p>With the New Orleans Pelicans <a href="https://x.com/NBA_NewYork/status/1870259299299017132" rel="noopener">decimated by injuries</a> and potentially looking to blow things up, Siegel reports that the Raptors could look at CJ McCollum as a potential target on the trade market. He would come in as a strong veteran mentor to their young core that includes Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett.</p><p>As far as players that could be outgoing in a trade, Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown and Davion Mitchell are names that have come up as possibly being moved before the deadline. Siegel reports that while the Raptors are certainly in position to be sellers, and most likely will be, they could look to pull off a big move via trade with McCollum or Brandon Ingram being targets. Should the Denver Nuggets look to move Michael Porter Jr., the Raptors could look to acquire him as well.</p><p>Last season, when the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-raptors-pelicans-three-team-trade">Raptors traded Pascal Siakam</a>, that signaled the franchise’s shift to a rebuild Currently, Chris Boucher is the only remaining player left from the 2019 championship team.</p><p>The Raptors are currently 7-21 and in second to last behind only the Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference standings. They are 3-7 in their last ten games and have lost six straight. They would be in line for a potentially high draft pick in what’s expected to be a strong 2025 NBA Draft.</p><p>In the days leading up to the trade deadline, the Raptors will certainly be a team to keep an eye on.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Raptors lurking as potential sneaky trade deadline buyer

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-news-nic-claxton-ejected-raptors-game-shocking-move');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nic Claxton ejected from Raptors game after shocking move');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nic-Claxton-ejected-from-Raptors-game-after-shocking-move.jpg"></figure><h1>Nic Claxton ejected from Raptors game after shocking move</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T18:28:20-08:00">December 19th, 6:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T18:28:20-08:00">December 19th, 6:28pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Brooklyn Nets may have been in a close game against the Toronto Raptors early in the second quarter, but they’re going to have to play the rest of the game without <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-nic-claxton-reacts-season-best-performance-amid-slow-start-2024-25">starting big man Nic Claxton</a> who was ejected.</p><p>Nic Claxton was ejected with a little over eight minutes to go in the second quarter after <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1869917830621343945" rel="noopener">he tossed the ball</a> into the stands following a foul call. Claxton was bringing the ball up court on the break and was fouled by Kelly Olynyk. As the play was winding down, Claxton threw the ball into the stands and the nearest referee immediately signaled for an ejection.</p><p>Claxton was apparently upset over a no-call on the previous Nets’ offensive possession against the Raptors. Up to that point, Claxton had seven points, five rebounds and one blocked shot in a little over ten minutes.</p><p>This past offseason, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-nic-claxton-earns-100-million-contract-before-free-agency">Claxton re-signed with the Nets</a> on a four-year deal worth around $100 million. Claxton had solidified himself as the Nets’ starting center.</p><p>But to begin the 2024-25 season, Claxton was coming off the bench as he dealt with a hamstring issue and the team was managing his minutes. He’s also been managing a back injury this season and has appeared in 20 games for the Nets with 12 starts.</p><p>Claxton was moved back into the starting lineup permanently at the beginning of the month, and he’s started to look more the promising player the Nets envision as part of their future core. He’s been averaging 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 blocked shots with splits of 62.3 percent shooting from the field, 25 percent shooting from the three-point line and 46.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>The former Georgia standout was the No. 31 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Nets. This is his sixth season in the NBA, all with the Nets.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nic Claxton ejected from Raptors game after shocking move

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-is-scottie-barnes-playing-nets-latest-injury-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Is Scottie Barnes playing vs. Nets? Latest Raptors injury update');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0Is-Scottie-Barnes-playing-vs.-Nets-Latest-injury-update0.jpg"></figure><h1>Is Scottie Barnes playing vs. Nets? Latest Raptors injury update</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T12:03:51-08:00">December 19th, 12:03pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T12:15:41-08:00">December 19th, 12:15pm</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University senior from Atlanta on track to graduate with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-vs-raptors-prediction-odds-pick-12-19-2024">Toronto Raptors host the Brooklyn Nets</a> on Tuesday night. Power forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-scottie-barnes-gets-good-ankle-injury-update">Scottie Barnes is on the injury report</a> for the Raptors, listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain. Here’s everything we know about Barnes’ injury and <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-12-19_09AM.pdf" rel="noopener">his playing status</a> vs the Nets.</p><p><b><i>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (</i></b><a href="https://www.fubo.tv/stream/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener"><b><i>Get Access | Save $30</i></b></a><i>)</i><b><i>*</i></b></p><h2><b>Scottie Barnes injury status vs Nets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Scottie-Barnes-4-dunks-the-ball-against-the-Indiana-Pacers.jpg"><figcaption>© John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Given his questionable designation on the injury report, there is currently still some doubt as to whether or not Scottie Barnes will be able to return to the lineup on Thursday evening for the Raptors.</p><p>Barnes has missed over a week now with a right ankle sprain he suffered in a recent home loss to the New York Knicks, and that wasn’t long after he had returned from a different injury that had kept him out of the lineup for most of November.</p><p>Joining Barnes on the injury report are Bruce Brown (right knee) and Immanuel Quickley (partial UCL tear), both of whom will miss the contest vs the Nets, among others.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Nets will be without Cam Thomas (left hamstring strain), Ziaire Williams (left knee sprain), and many others for the game. Brooklyn also will be playing in just its second game since dealing Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors for De’Anthony Melton (also injured) and future draft capital.</p><p>It’s been a rough season for the Raptors so far this year, but Barnes has looked great when he’s been healthy, building on last year’s All-Star campaign with improved three-point accuracy as well as ball-handling skills, allowing him to be a one-man fast break at times for Toronto. The Raptors have also enjoyed the emergence of second year wing Gradey Dick as a legitimate on the ball threat.</p><p>In any case, the Raptors and Nets are slated to tip things off at 7:30 PM ET from the Scotiabank Arena.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Is Scottie Barnes playing vs. Nets? Latest Raptors injury update

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nets-vs-raptors-prediction-odds-pick-12-19-2024');   ga('set', 'title', 'Nets vs. Raptors prediction, odds, pick – 12/19/2024');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nets-vs-raptors-prediction-odds-pick-how-to-watch.webp"></figure><h1>Nets vs. Raptors prediction, odds, pick – 12/19/2024</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-17T13:59:21-08:00">December 17th, 1:59pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-17T13:59:21-08:00">December 17th, 1:59pm</time><address><a>Jake Faigus</a>Jake Faigus graduated from the University of Arizona in 2022 and has written for several publications and websites. He has had stops at Catena Media, Playmaker, DraftKings, USA Today, Spike Up, and Spotlight Sports Group. He also writes for Sporting News and works at iHeartMedia in Phoenix when he is not writing for ClutchPoints.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Betting</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Raptors host the Nets on Thursday! These two teams have struggled entering this matchup. The Nets have lost three straight, while the Raptors have lost four. It’s time to continue our NBA odds <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba" rel="noopener">series</a> with a Nets-Raptors prediction and pick.</p><p>The Nets have struggled this year. They are 10-16 and have lost three and six of their last seven games. Cam Thomas is the best player on the Nets and was just injured. With Thomas out for this game, Cameron Johnson is the best player on the Nets and will be their biggest key on offense. This is an interesting matchup against the Raptors because they have also struggled this year.</p><p>The Raptors have struggled this year and are in rebuilding mode. They have talent, but they are a very young team, and it has been a struggle for every player to gel as a team. RJ Barrett is the engine that makes the Raptors go this year, especially with Scottie Barnes injured. This is a big matchup for the Raptors because they need to bounce back after losing five straight entering this game.</p><p><b><i>Here are the Nets-Raptors <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba" rel="noopener">NBA odds</a>, courtesy of FanDuel. </i></b></p><h2><b>NBA Odds: Nets-Raptors Odds</b></h2><p>Brooklyn Nets: +4 (-112)</p><p>Moneyline: +144</p><p>Toronto Raptors: -4 (-108)</p><p>Moneyline: -172</p><p>Over: 217 (-110)</p><p>Under: 217 (-110)</p><h2><b>How To Watch Nets vs. Raptors</b></h2><p>Time: 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT</p><p>TV: MSG Network/ TSN/Sportsnet</p><p><i><b>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2><b>Why the Nets Could Cover the Spread/Win</b></h2><p>The Nets have struggled on offense this year. They are 21st in scoring at 110.1 points per game, 17th in field goal percentage at 46%, and fourth in three-point percentage at 38.5%. This season, four different Nets players are averaging over double digits in scoring, with Cameron Johnson leading the team with 18.6 points per game. Ben Simmons leads the team in assists at 6.6 per game. Johnson is the key to this offense, with Cam Thomas injured and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-dennis-schroder-fire-nsfw-message-ben-simmons-passed-shot-vs-suns">Dennis Schroeder</a> being traded to the Warriors. The Nets should be able to find some offense because the Raptors have struggled on defense, but it comes down to what Johnson can do. If Johnson plays well, then the Nets can run an offense, but if not, then it will be a long night in Toronto.</p><p>The Nets’ defense has struggled this year. They are 21st in scoring defense, at 115.3 points per game, last in field goal defense, at 49.1%, and 27th in three-point defense, at 37.6%. Nic Claxton has been a beast down low for the Nets. He leads the team in rebounding, at 7.6 points per game, and in blocks, at 1.2 per game. Finally, three players are averaging at least one steal per game, with Day’Ron Sharpe leading the team with 1.4. The Nets have struggled on defense, but they get a solid matchup against a Raptors offense that has not been all that special in their own right. This might be an ugly game, but expect the Nets to find some stops on defense against the Raptors, even on the road.</p><h2><b>Why the Raptors Could Cover the Spread/Win</b></h2><p>The Raptors’ offense has not been playing well at all this year. They are 15th in scoring at 112.3 points per game, 14th in field goal percentage at 46.4% from the field, and 22nd in three-point shooting at 34.1% from behind the arc. Seven Raptors are averaging over double digits in scoring this year, with RJ Barrett leading at 23.5 points per game. Barrett also leads the team in assists at 6.1 per game. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-rj-barrett-real-emotions-facing-knicks">RJ Barrett</a> and Gradey Dick are the two biggest keys for the Raptors on offense, with Barnes and Poetl injured. Despite Barnes and Poetl being out, Barrett, Dick, and the rest of the offense should be able to score on the Nets in this game, especially at home. The Nets are dealing with injuries in their own right, too, so expect the Raptors to play well on offense in this game.</p><p>The defense for the Raptors has also been inconsistent this year. They are 25th in points allowed at 116.5 points per game, 14th in field goal percentage defense at 46.4%, and 10th in three-point percentage at 35.4% from behind the arc. Jakob Poetl has been great down low and leads the way in rebounding at 11 per game, but if he’s injured, Barrett is the leader at 6.8 per game. Poetl leads the team in blocks, too, at 1.3, but if he can’t play, Boucher is the leader at 0.8 per game. Finally, four Raptors are averaging one steal per game, with Kelly Olynyk leading the team at 1.8. The Raptors have a great matchup in this game against a struggling and injury-riddled Nets offense. This defense should be able to slow down the Nets, and it helps the game at home in Toronto.</p><h2><b>Final Nets-Raptors Prediction &amp; Pick</b></h2><p>These two teams are struggling this year. The Nets are dealing with more roster uncertainty after Dennis Schroeder was traded away and Cam Thomas is injured. Cameron Johnson is playing well, but he can not do everything himself. It hurts the Raptors that Scottie Barnes is injured and Jakob Poetl is questionable, but they have more to like, like entering this game and playing at home. RJ Barrett is the best player on the court in this game. The Raptors win and cover at home in this game.</p><p><b>Final Nets-Raptors Prediction &amp; Pick: Toronto Raptors -4 (-108)</b></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Nets vs. Raptors prediction, odds, pick – 12/19/2024

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-jakob-poeltl-injury-adds-to-torontos-woes');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jakob Poeltl injury adds to Raptors’ woes');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raptors-news-Jakob-Poeltl-injury-adds-to-Torontos-woes.jpg"></figure><h1>Jakob Poeltl injury adds to Raptors’ woes</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-16T20:31:14-08:00">December 16th, 8:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-16T20:31:14-08:00">December 16th, 8:31pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-fans-torn-after-jakob-poeltl-surprise-tanking-admission">no one expected the Toronto Raptors to be competitive</a> during the 2024-25 season, they have at least been one of the most exciting teams to watch in the NBA. However, injuries have been troubling the Raptors all season long, with Immanuel Quickley still on the mend and Scottie Barnes, shortly after returning from an orbital fracture, proceeding to injure his ankle. To make matters worse, the Raptors may be in danger of missing Jakob Poeltl after their starting center sustained a <a href="https://x.com/JLew1050/status/1868851031926530356" rel="noopener">serious-looking groin injury</a> in their 122-121 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.</p><p>Poeltl, as per Josh Lewenberg of TSN, ended up slipping on a spot near the restricted area where officials were dealing with condensation earlier in the game. It was a <a href="https://twitter.com/PensareBBall/status/1868849914769465620" rel="noopener">brutal looking slip</a> for the Raptors center, as he nearly did a full slip while trying to contest a floater attempt from Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Raptors season from hell continues. Jakob Poeltl injured on a scary fall. <a href="https://t.co/SEJEHancho">pic.twitter.com/SEJEHancho</a></p><p>— Pensare Basketball (@PensareBBall) <a href="https://twitter.com/PensareBBall/status/1868849914769465620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>At the very least, the good news for the Raptors is that Poeltl was able to return to the locker room under his own power, although it has to be said that he was walking gingerly. Poeltl had to exit the game early (he left the game at the 10:12 mark of the fourth quarter) and was not able to return, so he was not present for when Toronto stormed back from a double-digit deficit and nearly snatched the victory.</p><p>The hope for the Raptors is that the groin injury Poeltl suffered isn’t too serious and that he would be back to action for their Thursday night contest against the Brooklyn Nets. If Poeltl cannot go on Thursday, expect the likes of Chris Boucher, Kelly Olynyk, and even Jamal Shead to get some extended burn.</p><h2><b>Raptors scrap and claw amid tanking season</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raptors-center-Jakob-Poeltl-19-after-sustaining-a-lower-body-injury.jpg"><figcaption>© Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If there ever was a year for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-most-pleasant-surprise-early-2024-25-season">the Raptors to punt</a>, it’s this season; in addition to Cooper Flagg, a few of the incoming NBA prospects look like gems, with the likes of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, just to name a few, looking like franchise-altering talents. But they have been building some winning habits this season even if it hasn’t resulted in much on the wing column.</p><p>Even though the Raptors have a bad 7-20 record, they have shown an indomitable fighting spirit, and that is a testament to the solid coaching of Darko Rajakovic that he has his men ready to compete on most nights. And Monday night showed nothing different, as they nearly came back from 16 down to make the Bulls sweat in the endgame — even with Jakob Poeltl exiting early.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jakob Poeltl injury adds to Raptors’ woes

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/bulls-vs-raptors-prediction-odds-pick-12-16-2024');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bulls vs. Raptors prediction, odds, pick – 12/16/2024');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Bulls-vs.-Raptors-prediction-odds-pick.jpg"></figure><h1>Bulls vs. Raptors prediction, odds, pick – 12/16/2024</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-15T17:37:52-08:00">December 15th, 5:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-15T17:38:06-08:00">December 15th, 5:38pm</time><address><a>Dominik Zawartko</a>Dominik Zawartko is a Michigan State graduate with a degree in Political Science and English. Having previously worked in the nonprofit and legal sectors, he decided to pursue his true love of writing with ClutchPoints. Dominik's hobbies include painting, cooking food, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and always having a laugh. His main focus areas are UFC coverage and all things sneakers.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Betting</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>We’re back for another betting prediction and pick in the NBA as we turn our attention towards this next matchup in the Eastern Conference. The <b>Chicago Bulls (11-15) </b>will visit the <b>Toronto Raptors (7-19) </b>as the two squads meet for the first time this season. It’s time to continue our NBA odds <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba" rel="noopener">series</a> with a Bulls-Raptors prediction and pick.</p><p>The Chicago Bulls are currently third in the Central Division and they’re ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. They’ve won three of their last five games heading into this tilt and they’re coming in off a dominant 109-95 win over the Charlotte Hornets. They’ll hope to work back towards a .500 record.</p><p>The Toronto Raptors are currently last in the Atlantic Division and they occupy the 14-spot in the Eastern standings. They’re slumping at the moment with four consecutive losses heading into this one after losing their most recent game 114-104 to the Miami Heat. They’ll hope to get back into the win column as slight home favorites.</p><p><b><i>Here are the Bulls-Raptors <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba" rel="noopener">NBA odds</a>, courtesy of FanDuel. </i></b></p><h2><b>NBA Odds: Bulls-Raptors Odds</b></h2><p>Chicago Bulls: +1 (-110)</p><p>Moneyline: +100</p><p>Toronto Raptors: -1 (-110)</p><p>Moneyline: -118</p><p>Over: 240.5 (-110)</p><p>Under: 240.5 (-110)</p><h2><b>How To Watch Bulls vs. Raptors</b></h2><p>Time: 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT</p><p>TV: NBC Sports Chicago, NBA League Pass</p><p><i><b>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2><b>Why the Bulls Could Cover the Spread/Win</b></h2><p>The Chicago Bulls are fresh off a solid performance over the Charlotte Hornets, taking the first game of the season series while covering their spread as well. Josh Giddey had a stat-stuffing effort with 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists while adding a team-high four steals as well. After many years of question marks surrounding the point guard position in Chicago, it seems as though the Bulls finally found their point guard of the future and their success seriously hinges on his ability to do a little bit of everything for them.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Chicago Bulls &amp; Charlotte Hornets combined for 75 MISSED three-pointers on Friday night, the most ever in NBA history! They shot a total of 97 threes! <a href="https://t.co/1x6fOevipF">pic.twitter.com/1x6fOevipF</a></p><p>— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaycheeseDGTL/status/1868331468348608605?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><br>While the Bulls did not play their best game in terms of accuracy from the field, it was just enough to overcome their opponents and Chicago has been taking care of business against seeds lower than them in the East. It was also a promising sign to see Lonzo Ball score 10 points in 19 minutes of action – his involvement off the bench could be a factor that pushes this team over the hump and helps them mount a winning run.</p></figure><h2><b>Why the Raptors Could Cover the Spread/Win</b></h2><p>The Raptors have been struggling for the majority of this season and they’re hoping to break a four-game losing streak in their first meeting with Chicago. They’re ranking near the bottom half of the NBA in terms of scoring and rebounding, so they’ll need to improve those categories against a Bulls team that does both rather well. RJ Barrett has been leading the team with 23.2 PPG and he’s been playing extremely well at the point guard position, look for him to continue feeding teammates like Scottie Barnes as they look to get out in transition against Chicago.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="hu">RJ BARRETT 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/3zWzCHZT1r">pic.twitter.com/3zWzCHZT1r</a></p><p>— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/1866308940679598478?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><br>Center Jakob Poeltl will have a big advantage during this game with his size and his 11 rebounds per contest could see a boost against an undersized Bulls team in the paint. Gradey Dick has also taken a massive leap forward in terms of his scoring, improving on his 11 PPG average last season to 18 PPG this year. While it’s taking some time for them to gain their footing this season, the future is bright for this squad in the coming years.</p></figure><h2><b>Final Bulls-Raptors Prediction &amp; Pick</b></h2><p>Both teams are struggling at the moment and trying to work back towards a .500 mark on the season. Neither team is shooting the ball particularly well at the moment and it’ll be interesting to see if either offense improves from the field. While the Bulls have gone an even 13-13 ATS this season, the Raptors have been one of the league’s better covering teams at 18-8 ATS. They’re also 10-3 ATS when playing at home this year.</p><p>While the Bulls seem to have the better production on paper, they’re dealing with a number of players who are day-to-day with injuries and they could be playing at less than 100% in this one. With the Raptors performing well as of late and covering their spreads, I expect those trends to continue as they use their momentum at home to earn another win and cover the spread.</p><p><b>Final Bulls-Raptors Prediction &amp; Pick: Toronto Raptors -1 (-110)</b></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bulls vs. Raptors prediction, odds, pick – 12/16/2024

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-scottie-barnes-gets-good-ankle-injury-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors’ Scottie Barnes gets ‘good’ ankle injury update');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raptors-news-Scottie-Barnes-gets-good-ankle-injury-update.jpg"></figure><h1>Raptors’ Scottie Barnes gets ‘good’ ankle injury update</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-15T16:24:02-08:00">December 15th, 4:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-15T16:24:02-08:00">December 15th, 4:24pm</time><address><a>Dylan Fine</a>Dylan Fine focuses on the NFL and NCAA Football for ClutchPoints, in addition to working on the meme team. Dylan is a graduate of Georgetown University and has covered various topics ranging from local politics in the DMV region with DC Voter For Animals to live sporting events in the Long Island and Rochester areas with The Southampton Press and Pickin’Splinters. When he isn't working, he's usually running in preparation for the next annual Turkey Trot.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Toronto Raptors have received an encouraging update to star power forward Scottie Barnes. The 2024 All-Star has been out since <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-scottie-barnes-exits-knicks-game-troubling-injury">spraining his ankle against the New York Knicks</a>. Bruce Brown and Immanuel Quickley are also inching back to their returns, as they have only played three games combined this season. The Raptors are currently 7-19 and 14th in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>According to Toronto Raptors’ Reporter for Sportsnet, Michael Grange, Barnes <a href="https://x.com/michaelgrange/status/1868352158493725051" rel="noopener">went through a workout</a> today. While there is no timetable for his return, it’s clear that this setback will not keep him out long. Meanwhile, Bruce Brown <a href="https://x.com/michaelgrange/status/1868352902579765732" rel="noopener">completed a full practice</a> on Sunday and is listed as day-to-day. Quickley, who’s been out with a left elbow injury, was working out his left arm but has not been cleared for practice.</p><h2><b>The Toronto Raptors’ young core has struggled to stay healthy</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raptors-Scottie-Barnes-and-Immanuel-Quickley.jpg"><figcaption>John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Toronto Raptors have an intriguing young core that has barely played together in 2024. After signing <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-immanuel-quickley-sign-175-million-contract">Immanuel Quickley to a five-year, $175 million contract</a>, the franchise expected its young guard to take the next step in his development. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet, as Quickley has only played three games this year. In those games, Immanuel has averaged 15.3 points and four assists.</p><p>The other piece of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-news-acquire-og-anunoby-raptors-massive-trade">OG Anunoby trade</a>, RJ Barrett, has taken the next step and is playing like one of the best shooting guards in the league. The 24-year-old hometown kid is averaging a career-high 23.2 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.0 assists. Barrett is also tying his career highs in blocks and steals. The other standout players this year so far have been Gradey Dick and Jakob Poeltl.</p><p>The former top-ten pick out of Kansas is averaging almost ten more points than he did in his rookie year. Poeltl, on the other hand, has been a double-double machine, putting up 15.9 PPG and 11.3 RPG.</p><p>Through 26 games, the Raptors have many players elevating their levels of play. However, the franchise has struggled to string together wins as key players have been injured. Scottie Barnes has been one of those key players and has only been featured in 14 games this year. Brown has yet to make his debut this season. The seventh-year veteran was among the best sixth men in the league during the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 title run. His presence is crucial for a team that could use another experienced player in its rotation.</p><p>Overall, Toronto is 4-9 in games that require clutch time. This franchise is still learning how to win with its new core. It will probably take some more time for second-year head coach Darko Rajaković to build a culture within this young franchise. However, the steady improvement of the available players is a good indication that the Raptors’ coaching staff knows how to get the best out of this team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Raptors’ Scottie Barnes gets ‘good’ ankle injury update

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/heat-news-jimmy-butler-trade-rumors-take-a-pause-in-4th-straight-win-vs-raptors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jimmy Butler trade rumors take a pause in Heat’s 4th straight win vs. Raptors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Heat-news-Jimmy-Butler-trade-rumors-take-a-pause-in-4th-straight-win-vs.jpg"><figcaption>12/12/24</figcaption></figure><h1>Jimmy Butler trade rumors take a pause in Heat’s 4th straight win vs. Raptors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-12T19:11:00-08:00">December 12th, 7:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-12T19:11:00-08:00">December 12th, 7:11pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI – Despite the constant <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-jimmy-butlers-preferred-trade-destinations-with-heat-open-to-offers">rumors surrounding Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler</a>, the team handled business Thursday night as they won their fourth straight against the Toronto Raptors, 114-104. While the win will still be overshadowed, most likely by the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-suns-potential-jimmy-butler-trade-destinations">trade speculation with the Heat star</a>, they are still in the best stretch of the season.</p><p>Butler would have a modest game, scoring 11 points on three-for-eight shooting to go along with five rebounds and four assists. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-tyler-herro-drops-worthy-all-star-admission">Heat star Tyler Herro continues to have an All-Star</a>-type season, producing 23 points on an efficient nine-for-13 for 13 shooting, four of seven from deep, with four rebounds and four assists.</p><p>Bam Adebayo had another efficient game compared to the cold start to the season, as he scored 21 points, collected 16 rebounds, and recorded six assists.</p><p>Here are three takeaways from the Heat’s fourth straight win over the Raptors:</p><h2><b>A strong second quarter puts Heat ahead in the first half</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Heat-playong-defense-on-Dec.-12-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Rhona Wise-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It was a rough start in the first quarter for Miami as Toronto came out aggressive on the defensive end of the floor, pressing stars such as Tyler Herro after having an explosive week where he was honored as Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Raptors star Grady Dick would have an impressive start of his own, having 12 of his team’s first 20 points as the Heat ended the period down four points.</p><p>There is no doubt that eyes were on Butler this game, especially since the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-fuels-trade-rumors-latest-hair-color">Heat star was rocking an orange hairstyle</a>, with people speculating that it was to poke fun at the recent trade rumors involving the Phoenix Suns. He would not have much impact on offense until making a free throw with two and change left in the opening period.</p><p>The second quarter started scary for the team as Toronto had a 14-2 run where they built up a lead by as much as 16 points, which, against a team that missed their best player in Scottie Barnes, was a reality check. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstra-has-eye-opening-message-to-nikola-jovic-amid-diminished-role">Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra decided to play Nikola Jovic</a>, which was the first time he’s been on the floor since Nov. 23 against the Dallas Mavericks.</p><p>He turned out to be one of the reasons for Miami to start rolling on offense as they ended the period on a 33-10 run that quickly erased the aforementioned double-digit lead. Jovic would have an 11-point quarter, shooting three of three from the field two of two from beyond the arc to go along with a +23 on the floor.</p><p>Even the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-jimmy-butler-erik-spoelstra-shout-out-miamis-latest-diamond-in-the-rough">Heat guard Dru Smith would continue</a> to have productive minutes, scoring seven in the period. The team shot 66.7 percent (12/18) from the field and five of eight from deep.</p><h2><b>The second half was controlled by the Heat</b></h2><p>The Heat would continue to control the game throughout the second half as they outscored the Raptors 31-25 in the third quarter, shooting 50 percent from the field and from three-point range. Herro would contribute nine more to further hurt any chance Toronto tried to come back in this game.</p><p>Toronto could not find the magic they had in the first half, despite actually finishing with more points in the paint than Miami, 56-52, which is considered the Heat’s forte. However, it was from everywhere else that the home team found success as they finished shooting 40.6 percent from deep and 48.2 percent from the field.</p><p>It was a typical Heat win with the main three stars having solid nights where the second unit, and a welcome performance from Jovic, who finished with 14 points off the bench, provided a helpful boost to get them their fourth straight win.</p><h2><b>Despite Jimmy Butler trade rumors, the Heat won their fourth straight</b></h2><p>There is no doubt that the trade rumors surrounding the Heat star Butler were the sole focus of the team for the last few days, which is ironic timing since the team is playing their best basketball. After the 41-point win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 4, it had aspects of the start of a turning point for the Heat.</p><p>The team would go on to take down an explosive Phoenix Suns team, albeit without Kevin Durant, but the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-bam-adebayo-tyler-herro-open-up-on-miamis-positive-momentum-after-win-vs-cavs">Heat would then go on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers</a>, which has a strong case to be the best victory of the season over the No. 1 seed in the East. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/heat-news-erik-spoelstras-message-to-the-team-amidst-jimmy-butler-trade-rumors">Heat’s focus right now is to put the outside noise</a> of trade rumors and <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1867343641200509243" rel="noopener">speculation on the back burner</a>, an aspect that Spoelstra said to ClutchPoints before Thursday’s win.</p><p>“This is this profession,” Spoelstra said. “Can’t get sick and see some narratives that are going out there, that’s going to happen, you know, in every organization at some point during a season, we’re trying to build on something like, played three solid games, we’re still not anywhere where we want to be, you know. So we have some work to do. And, you know, really getting ready for this final game of this home stand is the most important thing right now.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Erik Spoelstra about the importance of mental toughness where they’re playing their best, but the organization is clouded with trade rumors.</p><p>“That’s this profession, you can’t get sick and see some narratives that are going out there, that’s going to happen…” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/JTW8axbVaI">pic.twitter.com/JTW8axbVaI</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1867343641200509243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>At any rate, the Heat are now 13-10, on a four-game winning streak, as they now travel to take on the Detroit Pistons on Monday, Dec. 16.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jimmy Butler trade rumors take a pause in Heat’s 4th straight win vs. Raptors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/raptors-news-toronto-signs-hometown-hero-contract-injuries');   ga('set', 'title', 'Raptors sign hometown hero to contract amid injuries');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1085.jpeg"></figure><h1>Raptors sign hometown hero to contract amid injuries</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-12T18:05:51-08:00">December 12th, 6:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-12T18:18:15-08:00">December 12th, 6:18pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Toronto Raptors’ roster has been <a href="https://x.com/MikeAScotto/status/1866576527162310736" rel="noopener">hit with a few injury issues</a> in recent weeks. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-scottie-barnes-out-several-weeks-ankle-injury">Scottie Barnes just went down with an ankle injury</a> and will miss time. Immanuel Quickley and Bruce Brown are both out. And Jakob Poeltl and Kelly Olynyk had been on the injury report, although both players have returned. The Raptors recently <a href="https://x.com/nbagleague/status/1867243414066225266" rel="noopener">added a hometown hero</a>, A.J. Lawson, on a two-way contract to help with depth.</p><p>The Raptors previously had all of their three two-way contract roster spots filled, so they made an additional move to waive DJ Carton, who was dealing with an injury as well. Lawson joins rookies Jamison Battle and Ulrich Chomche as the Raptors’ three two-way contract players.</p><p>Under a two-way contract, Lawson will spend plenty of live game reps in the G League with the Raptors 905. But with the recent injuries, he could see minutes with the big club.</p><p>The Raptors are currently 7-18 and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Only the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, and Washington Wizards are behind them in the standings in terms of the top odds for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.</p><h2><b>A.J. Lawson returns home with Raptors<br></b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_1086.jpeg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>A native of Brampton, Ontario, Lawson’s NBA career takes him home alongside former AAU teammate and fellow Toronto native RJ Barrett. The pair also played alongside Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard growing up.</p><p>Lawson originally went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft and began his career in the G League. He got his NBA breakthrough during the 2022-23 season when he signed a pair of two-way contracts with the Minnesota Timberwolves early in the year.</p><p>The Wolves ended up cutting him, and he joined the Dallas Mavericks on a two-way contract. Lawson’s tenure with the Mavericks ended when he was one of the final cuts before the start of the 2024-25 season. He was playing in the G League with the Long Island Nets before signing with the Raptors.</p><p>Lawson suited up in 11 games for Long Island, averaging 24.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals with splits of 44.3 percent shooting from the field, 32.6 percent shooting from the three-point line and 82.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>In total, Lawson has appeared in 57 NBA games from 2022-2024 with the Wolves and Mavericks. He holds career averages of 3.4 points and 1.2 rebounds with splits of 45.7 percent shooting from the field and 30.7 percent shooting from the three-point line.</p><p>The former South Carolina star brings additional wing depth to the Raptors amid the injuries to Barnes, Quickley, and Brown.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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Raptors News: Get the latest Toronto Raptors news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

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