The Toronto Raptors could be without one of their top players, forward Pascal Siakam, against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series Sunday.
According to Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun, the Raptors have listed Siakam as doubtful with a calf contusion.
In Thursday’s 116-95 Game 3 loss to Philly, Siakam played 34 minutes and finished with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting.
The Raptors face a 2-1 deficit in the series and need a road win in Game 4 to avoid being pushed to the brink of elimination.
Per TSN’s Josh Lewenberg, Siakam said he was unsure how he injured his calf and called it “very sore and a little swollen.”
Siakam also told Lewenberg that he will test the calf during Saturday’s practice and Sunday morning while continuing to receive treatment.
The 25-year-old Siakam could have suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Toronto’s Game 3 loss when he was called for a flagrant foul for tripping Sixers center Joel Embiid with his right leg.
Lewenberg tweeted the following exchange between himself and Siakam:
Siakam says he’ll test it out in practice today and then again tomorrow morning and will continue to get treatment. Obviously he’s hopeful he can play.
Do you know how you got hurt?
Siakam: “No… There was a lot of contact during the game so I don’t know exactly when it happened.”
It was the same leg you used to trip Embiid, right?
Siakam: “Uh, yeah. I think so.”
Siakam is the most likely candidate to be named the NBA’s Most Improved Player this season, as he averaged 16.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists after putting up just 7.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game last season.
As good as he was during the regular season, Siakam has been even more dominant in the playoffs with averages of 22.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest.
If Siakam can’t go in Game 4, Toronto will be without one of its most explosive athletes and versatile defenders, which will put even more pressure on superstar Kawhi Leonard to perform.
It would likely also result in Serge Ibaka’s insertion into the starting lineup alongside Marc Gasol, which is a setup that could give Philadelphia some trouble in terms of matching the Raptors’ size inside.
Toronto could also go small by playing Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet together more often, although they combined to go just 2-of-17 from the field in Game 3.
Courtesy: ESPN.com
