Reinforcements could be on the way for the injury-plagued Toronto Raptors.
RJ Barrett (ankle) and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) have both been upgraded to questionable for Friday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers, the team announced Thursday.
Ja'Kobe Walter (hip) and Jakob Poeltl (back) were both ruled out for the contest. Poeltl, who last played on Dec. 21, was back in Toronto for a specialist appointment on Thursday, per Sportsnet's Michael Grange.
Barrett has been out for the Raptors' last seven games after suffering a left ankle sprain on Jan. 9 against the Boston Celtics. He has been with the team during the road trip and has been practising and participating in shootaround.
The 25-year-old Canadian has had a strong campaign for the Raptors when he has been available, averaging 19.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 49.6 per cent from the field and 35.5 per cent from three-point range.
Murray-Boyles, meanwhile, missed the last two games after suffering a left thumb contusion on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Along with the contusion, he has also been diagnosed with a sprained thumb, per Grange.
The rookie forward has established himself as a key contributor with plenty of bodies out for Toronto. Through 37 games this season, he is averaging 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
At 27-19, the Raptors sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, seven games back of the first-place Detroit Pistons.
