National Basketball Association

Raptors (28-14) at Hornets (21-21): Preview

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:05 p.m. ET

Fansided, Brian Boake/FanSided via Raptors Rapture

The Raptors end their 3-game road swing in Charlotte tonight. Suddenly beset with injuries, Toronto is likely to struggle.

The Toronto Raptors find themselves in considerable difficulty. In the last two games, three important players have suffered head injuries. While I’d be the first to admit the Raptors have been fortunate over the past few years with their health, the basketball gods are tipping the scales the wrong way in a hurry.

Jonas Valanciunas is not listed as injured, which is good news though hard to believe. He endured a hard fall and serious contact from the floor to the back of his head. At a minimum, he’s got to be suffering headaches. Lucas Nogueira is going through the concussion protocol, while DeMarre Carroll appears to have neck strain rather than a concussion.

If I were Masai Ujiri, I’ll put all of them on the jet to Toronto, and tell them not to get out of bed until Sunday shootaround unless they are visiting the doctor. While that would leave the big team extremely short of bodies, it’s only one game.

The Raps could very easily lose to the Charlotte Hornets at full strength. For whatever reason, these guys have always been able to handle the Raptors, particularly on their home floor. The Hornets just returned after a winless 5-game road trip and defeated Portland, so you know they are ready.

Charlotte has a relatively veteran-heavy roster, and a quality coach in Steve Clifford. However, I wouldn’t want to be their GM. They look like they are on that dreaded in-between treadmill; just strong enough to sneak into the playoffs two years out of three, only to be quickly dispatched.

3 keys to Raptors victory

Conclusion & Final Score

I’m reluctant to so much as guess at the result of this one, since coach Dwane Casey will have so many game-time decisions to make about key players. With no confidence whatsoever, I’ll take a stab.

Hornets 106 – Raptors 100