Toronto Raptors‘ RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley will both make their return to the floor when the team takes on the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Both Quickley and Barrett have missed significant stretches of Toronto’s 13-game losing skid as they grieved the loss of loved ones.
Quickley took a leave after his uncle Shawn Hamilton died of cancer on March 20, missing six games. Barrett, whose 19-year-old brother Nathan Barrett died on March 14, has been on leave for nine games.
The two players were traded from the New York Knicks to Toronto for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn on Dec. 30. Both Quickley and Barrett described each other as “brothers” when the deal was made and Quickley said it is apt that they will potentially return to the court together.
Barrett has averaged 20.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 55.3 per cent from the field since joining the Raptors. Quickley has put together averages of 17.7 points 6.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 32 games since the trade.
The Raptors will look to snap their 13-game losing streak with the Lakers in town. Los Angeles has won six of its last seven as it battles for playoff positioning in the stacked Western Conference.
— With files from The Canadian Press