Just a couple days after being charged with impaired driving, Toronto Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas will get a chance to redeem his image.
On Tuesday, Raptors GM Masai Ujiri spoke with the media and confirmed that his young big man will suit up on Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers, as both the Raptors and NBA will let the legal process play out before any discipline is administered.
Programming alert: Watch the Toronto Raptors take on the Philadelphia 76ers with coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE
This decision by the Raptors provides Valanciunas with a far greater opportunity to make up for his mistake than just a written statement. With just five game remaining and the third seed in the Eastern Conference still a toss-up between Toronto and the Chicago Bulls, a good game from Valanciunas against Philly on Wednesday can go a long way to making people forget.
Averaging 16.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in his last seven contests, the 21-year-old big man is playing some of his best ball of the season. There’s no reason to think his production will suddenly drop off against the Sixers’ horrendous defence (they give up 107.2 points per 100 possessions), meaning, with added motivation now, Valanciunas could be in for a huge game.
Lowry, Johnson could return
Lost in the shuffle of the Valanciunas media frenzy on Tuesday, was word that both Kyle Lowry and Amir Johnson practiced, suggesting the two could possibly return to action on Wednesday.
Lowry and Johnson have both missed the last three games with a knee and ankle injury, respectively.
The question is, even if they can go, is it worth it to play them against the 76ers, a team that Toronto’s reserve unit should be able to handle, regardless?
Scoreboard watching
The Bulls take on the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Wednesday. The two clubs met once before this season, in Chicago, with Kevin Love burning the Bulls for 31 points in a 95-86 T-Wolves win.
Minnesota doesn’t have much to play for as the playoffs are now more a fleeting dream than anything for them, but it could still give Chicago some troubles, meaning Toronto has a great chance to get an important one-game cushion for third in the East.
Another big game that Raptors fans should look into on Wednesday is Charlotte at Washington. At the moment, the Bobcats are just one game back of the Wizards for sixth in the East, the seed the Raptors would have to play in the first-round of the playoffs if they can hold onto third.
This is significant because while the Dinos have seen success against the Wizards this season, going 3-1 against them, the exact opposite is said against the Bobcats, who swept the three-game season series with the Raptors.
Washington holds the tiebreaker over Charlotte so even if it loses, it’ll still hold onto the sixth seed. Another thing going the Wizards’ way is the slightly softer final four games they will play after Wednesday compared to what the Bobcats must face.
Playoff tickets on sale Thursday
Raptors playoff tickets will be on sale to the general public on Thursday starting at 10:00 a.m. ET.
A pre-sale was held on Tuesday for season-ticket holders and fans who signed up to a special playoff mailing list.
Tickets for the first three home games are being sold.