The Toronto Raptors will be without RJ Barrett for at least one more game.
Despite starting to participate in return-to-play activities on Monday, Barrett has been ruled out for the Raptors' game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, the team announced on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Jakob Poeltl is listed as probable for the game due to lower-back injury management that has caused him to be in and out of the lineup for much of the season.
Barrett, 25, has missed the Raptors' last nine games since sustaining a right knee sprain against the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 23. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection last week.
The Raptors have gone cold since Barrett went down, losing six of 10, with all those losses coming in a seven-game span.
The Mississauga, Ont., native had a strong start to his season before being sidelined with averages of 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 30.9 minutes in 17 games.
Poeltl, 30, has struggled while dealing with the back injury, producing averages of 10.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks, all below his usual contributions in recent seasons.
Meanwhile, it was announced on Wednesday that Jonathan Mogbo was assigned to the Raptors 905, Toronto's G League affiliate and will also be out for Thursday's contest against the Bucks. The move gives the 905 one of their top forwards back as they look to continue a record-setting perfect start at the G League Winter Showcase in Orlando.
Mogbo has been a key contributor for the 905, averaging 14.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists while playing in 12 of the team's 14 games this season. The 24-year-old sophomore is averaging 1.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 4.5 minutes per game across 11 NBA contests in 2024-25.
The 905 set a G League record by going undefeated in the Tip-Off tournament portion of the schedule, a perfect 14-0.
Mogbo has been a catalyst for that effort, overwhelming opponents on the defensive end, averaging 1.9 steals and 1.3 blocks while helping lead the 905 to a league-best 102 defensive rating.
It stands to reason that Mogbo will remain with the 905 for the duration of the Showcase Cup, however, the Raptors also have three games in four days during the tournament, two of which are on the road.
The Winter Showcase is a culmination of the G League's 14-game Tip-Off Tournament, where the top eight teams advance to compete for the Showcase Cup. The showcase also provides an opportunity for front office staff from around the NBA to gather in one place and scout potential additions to their rosters, before every teams records are reset for a 34-game regular season.
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