The Toronto Raptors have announced that Jakob Poeltl, who is listed as questionable due to a left ankle sprain, may play in Wednesday’s game. This is a positive sign for Poeltl, who left Monday’s game in the third quarter and did not return. He had previously missed 11 games earlier this year due to a similar injury, which added to concerns about his current condition. If the Raptors choose to err on the side of caution, Kelly Olynyk is expected to start. Jontay Porter is also an option if Poeltl is expected to miss significant time, but the Raptors have listed him as out. The team needs Poeltl to be at full strength for the stretch run, as they are currently 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in chase. Toronto has won three consecutive games and Trae Young’s injury has opened the door for them to potentially sneak into the playoffs as the 10th seed. The Raptors struggled without Poeltl in the past, but the addition of Olynyk at the trade deadline should provide some stability if Poeltl misses more games. An official update on Poeltl’s status is expected during pre-game activities on Wednesday night when the Raptors take on the Dallas Mavericks.
