The Toronto Raptors’ team surgeon has been quite active recently.
Raptors center Jakob Poeltl is facing an indefinite absence following surgery to repair a ligament tear in the fifth finger of his left hand, as announced by the team on Tuesday. No specific timetable has been provided for his recovery, but given the Raptors’ slim postseason chances, it’s improbable that he will return to play this season.
Adding to their injury concerns, the Raptors are already missing Scottie Barnes, who underwent finger surgery last week.
Poeltl sustained his hand injury during the second quarter of Sunday’s victory over Charlotte.
At 28 years old, Poeltl has been averaging 11.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game this season. With the team’s acquisition and subsequent contract extension of big man Kelly Olynyk, we can expect to see more of him in action as the season winds down. Currently, the Raptors hold a 23-39 record, placing them 12th in the Eastern Conference and trailing the final play-in spot by 4.5 games.
