The Toronto Raptors have recalled Norman Powell, Delon Wright, and Anthony Bennett from Raptors 905 of the D-League, the team announced.
All three were in action for the junior squad Thursday, though Bennett was limited to first-quarter action only due to a tight lower back. In five games with the 905, Powell’s averaging 25.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and 3.2 turnovers with a 53.2 true-shooting percentage. Wright, meanwhile, is averaging 16.2 points, five rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.4 steals with a 61.8 true shooting percentage in nine games. You can read more about their performances here.
The Raptors now have a full 15-man roster for Friday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, though two players will be inactive. Expect two or three players to be re-assigned for the 905 game on Saturday afternoon.
PG: Lowry, Joseph, Wright
SF: DeRozan, Ross, Powell
SF: Carroll, Johnson, Caboclo
PF: Scola, Patterson, Bennett
C: Valanciunas, Biyombo, Nogueira
In other updates, the Hornets have ruled Jeremy Lin out for the game due to a right ankle sprain. That’s great news considering Lin has torched the Raptors in the past, including a 35-point outburst in their Dec. 17 meeting. In 11 career games against Toronto, Lin is averaging 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while hitting 41.5 percent of his threes and ruining at least one Valentine’s Day.
Lin was considered questionable along with Spencer Hawes, who is still considered a game-time decision because of lower back tightness. The spiky-haired guard will join Al Jefferson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the sidelines.
Nicolas Batum has also been added to the injury report and is a game-time decision due to a right toe sprain. The Raptors avoided Batum in their last meeting, one that saw the Hornets win even without their star wing, Jefferson, and MKG. In other words, don’t sleep on a banged-up Hornets team, even without the services of Batum, who’s averaging 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in a career year ahead of free agency.
The Hornets could be down to a rotation that looks like this:
PG: Kemba Walker, Brian Roberts
SG: (Batum), Troy Daniels, Aaron Harrison
SF: Hairston, Jeremy Lamb
PF: Marvin Williams, Mr. Steal Yo’ Girl
C: Cody Zeller, (Hawes), Hansbrough
The Raptors initially opened as six-point favorites and the line has since moved to Raptors -7. You can check out the full game preview here.
