Key player could return from injury for Toronto Raptors vs. LA Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers have won three games in a row and clearly beat the Sacramento Kings 107-98 on Friday evening to take a 5-4 lead at the start of the 2024-25 season.

The Clippers advance to the second round of a back-to-back game and face the Toronto Raptors. Norman Powell led LA in a fourth straight game on Friday with 31 points and 12 rebounds, a yearly average of 25.7 points per game.

LA has surprised many this season and looked impressive despite missing star forward Kawhi Leonard. With one of the best defensive units in the NBA, the Clippers will look to dominate a struggling 2-7 Raptors squad.

Toronto has lost six of its last seven games but could take a lead heading into Saturday’s clash at the Intuit Dome. Standout defender Immanuel Quickley has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable as many expect him to return after an eight-game absence.

Quickley suffered a bruised pelvis in the season opener in Toronto and has not returned since. Quickley got off to a hot start, scoring 13 points in just 14 minutes before leaving the game, and the Raptors have been desperately waiting for the return of one of their best offensive talents ever since.

Toronto’s Davion Mitchell has been a viable replacement for Quickley in the starting lineup since his injury, but the Raptors should be significantly better with Quickley back in the lineup.

The Raptors already rank sixth in the NBA in points per game (118.0), so the return of Quickley could give their offense even more of a boost. Especially in the second leg of a back-to-back game, Saturday’s duel won’t be a walk in the park for the Clippers.

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