Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (shoulder) was able to fully practice on Tuesday, according to head coach Nick Nurse. It sounds like the plan is for Siakam to head to the G-League on Wednesday. He'll get in some work there, but probably won't return to the Raptors rotation until mid-November. This is good news for fantasy managers who continue to hold Siakam. It sounds like he might be ahead of schedule, but regardless this is a step in the right direction.

Toronto Raptors power forward Pascal Siakam (shoulder) is progressing in his return from off-season shoulder surgery, but he has not yet logged full contact practice, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports, likely putting any kind of return at least weeks off. Siakam has turned himself into a must-own fantasy cog over the past two years, averaging 22.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in that span. Without him in the mix for the time being, Chris Boucher stands to continue seeing elevated frontcourt minutes, while there will be ample shots to go around for Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and Co. in the Raptors' offense. Siakam can be safely stashed on IR slots for the time being, while those without that luxury face a much more tricky decision.

Toronto Raptors power forward Pascal Siakam (shoulder) and center Chris Boucher (finger) are the two big names that are set to miss Thursday's preseason contest vs. Philadelphia. Joining them on the sidelines are Khem Birch (health and safety protocols) and Yuta Watanabe (calf), giving the team an extremely thin frontcourt. Precious Achiuwa drew the start in the preseason opener and logged 25 minutes, while Justin Champagnie notched a double-double off the bench. Scottie Barnes also stands to benefit in the short-term as Toronto acclimates its new faces to the rotation. Siakam is still set to be the primary fantasy focal point for the Raptors this year, although his timetable for a return to action remains unclear.

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (shoulder) isn't on the market after all, at least according to the latest development. Siakam is reportedly content with remaining in Canada, and while the team will listen to offers, team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster aren't shopping the 27-year-old either. The sixth-year man out of New Mexico State recently underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum back in June and is expected to miss a month or so at the beginning of the season. However, although managers shouldn't select him early during fantasy drafts for the upcoming season, he is certainly worth a stash for those who've filled out their starting lineups.

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes hopes to achieve greatness in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors believe he’s got it in him. The Raptors selected the 6-foot-9 Florida State forward with the fourth pick in the NBA draft Thursday night. Boasting a nearly 7-foot-3 wingspan, Barnes is a talented, versatile defender. He’s also an unselfish player who was a double-figure scorer in Florida’s State’s balanced attack. Still, he struggled with his shooting, making 11 of 40 3-pointers (27.5%) and 62% of his free throws. “If they feel like they need to fix something in it, I’m willing to work with them to try to fix whatever it needs,” Barnes said about letting Toronto’s coaches try to improve his stroke. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to try to be the best player I can be. I’m trying to achieve greatness.” Barnes was the ACC Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year in his lone season at Florida State, averaging 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. “He’s a multi-faceted, multi-positional,... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes hopes to achieve greatness in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors believe he’s got it in him. The Raptors selected the 6-foot-9 forward Florida State forward with the fourth pick in the NBA draft Thursday night. Boasting a nearly 7-foot-3 wingspan, Barnes is a talented, versatile defender. He’s also an unselfish player who was a double-figure scorer in Florida’s State’s balanced attack. Still, he struggled with his shooting, making 11 of 40 3-pointers (27.5%) and 62% of his free throws. “If they feel like they need to fix something in it, I’m willing to work with them to try to fix whatever it needs,” Barnes said about working with Toronto’s coaches to improve his stroke. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to try to be the best player I can be. I’m trying to achieve greatness.” Barnes was the ACC Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year in his lone season at Florida State, averaging 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. “He’s a multi-faceted, multi-positional,... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — The shoulder injury that ended Toronto forward Pascal Siakam's season early will likely force him to miss the start of next season as well. The Raptors said Friday that Siakam had surgery last week to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, with an anticipated recovery and rehabilitation time of five months. That timetable, if precise, would mean Siakam can play again in early November — about two weeks after the NBA plans to open the 2021-22 season. Siakam was hurt in a game May 8 against Memphis, two days after he tied a career best by scoring 44 points against Washington. The 2020 NBA All-Star missed Toronto's final four games because of the injury. Siakam led the Raptors in scoring this season, averaging 21.4 points per game. He also led the Raptors in minutes (2,006) and games started (56). ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Fred VanVleet has nothing but great things to say about Tampa. He likes the food. The people in the arena are friendly. The temporary accommodations for the Toronto Raptors were as good as anyone could expect. He didn’t even mind that an alligator was living in his backyard. The Raptors’ guard has just one complaint. “It’s just not Toronto,” VanVleet said. “It’s not where we’re supposed to be.” Toronto’s runs of seven consecutive winning seasons, seven consecutive playoff seasons and five consecutive 50-win seasons are over, after a season like none other for the Raptors. They haven’t played in Canada since February 2020, had to make do on the Gulf coast of Florida this season, watched players get hurt, watched players and most of the coaching staff deal with coronavirus-related issues, and it all added up to a dismal 27-45 record. Now comes an offseason where point guard Kyle Lowry — he's now called the GROAT, or the greatest Raptor of all-time — is a free agent. There also is uncertainty... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers were dealt another disappointing loss, this time by the short-handed Toronto Raptors. But seeing LeBron James head to the locker room early served as a reminder it could have been much worse. James left with 6:42 to play as the Raptors defeated the Lakers 121-114 on Sunday night. Los Angeles coach Frank Vogel said it was a precautionary move to pull James in his second game back after missing 20 because of a sprained right ankle. James said he would wait to see how his ankle felt before deciding if he could play against Denver on Monday, but acknowledged it has yet to hold up for an entire game. “The first half, it feels really good. Obviously warming up for the game, everything is going well,” said James, who had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. “Last two games at halftime, you know, after the break, it’s kind of gotten a little sore on me — a little tight. "And obviously Coach decided not to put me back in towards the end because of... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kyle Lowry had 37 points and 11 assists, Pascal Siakam had 39 points and 13 rebounds and the short-handed Toronto Raptors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 121-114 on Sunday night. LeBron James had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists before going back to the locker room with 6:42 to play. It was the second game back for James after missing 20 because of a sprained right ankle. Toronto ended a three-game losing streak despite not having Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher or Gary Trent Jr. available because of injuries or to rest after losing at Utah on Saturday. DeAndre’ Bembry had 14 points off the bench and the Raptors led by as many as 21 to hand the defending NBA champion Lakers another baffling defeat. Kyle Kuzma had 24 points for Los Angeles, Anthony Davis chipped in with 12 and Andre Drummond had 19 points and 11 rebounds. After trailing by as many as 12 points in the first quarter, the Raptors led 72-59 at the half after blitzing the Lakers for 40 points... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Coronavirus protocols forced the Toronto Raptors to play Friday night without most of their coaching staff and forward Pascal Siakam. But they had two coaches ready to take over on an interim basis, and one of them was on the floor. Kyle Lowry had a triple-double — 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists — in a 122-111 victory over the Houston Rockets. The veteran guard added his share of input to assistant coach Sergio Scariolo, who took over as coach in the absence of head coach Nick Nurse. “We undestood the situation, and we didn't want to make it overcomplicated. Me and and Freddy (VanVleet) are always coaches on the floor anyway," said Lowry, who played 33 minutes and made four of five 3-point shots. “I like the kind of players who are challenging you in a positive way,” Scariolo said. “It's different from the view a coach can have from the sideline.” Norman Powell scored 30 points and Nick Van Vleet added 25 for the Raptors. Victor Oladipo led the Rockets with 27... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Norman Powell scored 30 points, Kyle Lowry had a triple-double and the depleted Toronto Raptors beat the Houston Rockets 122-111 on Friday night. The Raptors were without head coach Nick Norse, five assistant coaches and starting forward Pascal Siakam in accordance with the NBA’s health and safety protocols regarding the coronavirus. Assistant coach Sergio Scariolo directed the team. He had been away from the Raptors while coaching Spain in FIBA’s EuroBasket 2022 qualifiers and just cleared quarantine Friday. Scariolo has extensive experience as a head coach, winning championships of leagues in Italy, Spain and Russia, plus has been Spain’s national coach — helping that team win medals at the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympics, plus capture the Basketball World Cup title in 2019. Siakam was listed as out about two hours before the game, indicating that he either has a testing issue or a contact tracing issue. He played Wednesday night in Miami in the Raptors'... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — All-Star center Joel Embiid didn't get his hands on the ball much in the first half Tuesday night, but his Philadelphia teammates made the Toronto Raptors pay in the 76ers' 109-102 victory. Tobias Harris scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter after the 76ers built a big early lead with long-range shooting, ending Toronto's four-game winning streak. “I thought we had a chance for a high-scoring game when they took the ball out of Joel's hands, but I thought our guys played well,” Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said. “The turnovers (18) hurt us, no doubt, but we made great decisions and that's how you win games.” Embiid made only 3 of 13 shots and finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds and six turnovers. Furkan Korkmanz had 19 points and made five of Philadelphia's 17 3-pointers and shot 17 for 38 (44.7%) from behind the arc while the Raptors were denying Embiid the ball. “I should have run a better rotation scheme, let's leave it at that,” Toronto coach Nick Nurse... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tobias Harris scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and the Philadelphia 76ers beat Toronto 109-102 on Tuesday night to end the Raptors' four-game winning streak. Joel Embiid had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the 76ers, and Furkan Korkmanz added 19 points. Normal Powell led the Raptors with 24 points. Pascal Siakam added 22 and Fred VanVleet had 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Ben Simmons finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the 76ers, who overcame seven fourth-quarter turnovers to end their four-game road losing streak. Korkmanz scored 16 points in the first quarter and the 76ers led by 21 after Harris' layup completed a 7-0 run midway through the second quarter. The 76ers led by 16 early in the fourth quarter, but Terence Davis scored three straight baskets and Siakam scored twice on an 18-8 run that got the margin down to six with 5:05 left. Harris responded with a couple of inside shots and a 3-pointer, and Embid scored... [More]

New Orleans forward Zion Williamson now can be called an NBA All-Star, and only three others in the game’s 70-year history have gotten there at a younger age. Williamson is one of four first-time All-Stars, all revealed Tuesday night when the league announced the reserves for the March 7 game in Atlanta. Joining him as fellow All-Star rookies: Boston’s Jaylen Brown, New York’s Julius Randle and Chicago’s Zach LaVine. Phoenix’s Chris Paul is an All-Star for the 11th time, and Brooklyn’s James Harden is one for the ninth consecutive year. The rest of the reserves include Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic from the Eastern Conference, along with the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George, Utah teammates Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and Portland’s Damian Lillard from the Western Conference. “It's definitely an honor," Mitchell said. Team captains LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant of the... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Chris Boucher had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Kyle Lowry had 16 points and 12 assists, and the Toronto Raptors beat the Charlotte Hornets 111-108 on Thursday night. Pascal Siakam added 15 points and seven rebounds as Toronto ended a two-game skid and improved to 3-8. “I'm just trying to figure out a way to get us going,” said Boucher, who is averaging 20.8 points and 8.5 rebounds in the last four games, all in a reserve role. “Playing defense and bringing energy is what you're there for. It's pretty much what I do.” “As good as the numbers look, there's a lot of room for improvement,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “He's really close to being a really solid defensive player.” Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 22 points and P.J. Washington had 20 points and 11 rebounds. LaMelo Ball had 14 points and 11 assists as Charlotte played without leading scorer Gordon Heyward, who strained his left hip in Wednesday night's 104-93 loss to Dallas that ended a four-game winning streak.... [More]

TAMPA (AP) — Chris Boucher had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Kyle Lowry had 16 points and 12 assists, and the Toronto Raptors beat the Charlotte Hornets 111-108 on Thursday night. Pascal Siakam added 15 points and seven rebounds as Toronto ended a two-game skid and improved to 3-8. Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 22 points and P.J. Washington had 20 points and 11 rebounds. LaMelo Ball had 14 points and 11 assists as Charlotte played without leading scorer Gordon Heyward, who strained his left hip in Wednesday night's 104-93 loss to Dallas that ended a four-game winning streak. Fred Van Fleet's 3-pointer with 1:52 left in the first quarter launched a 34-11 Toronto run over the next 8 1/2 minutes that put the Raptors ahead to stay. They led 71-62 at halftime after shooting 13 for 25 (52%) from behind the arc. Boucher had 16 points in the first half, including a layup that left the Raptors with a 15-point lead, their largest of the half. After Toronto missed its first seven shots of the fourth... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The New York Knicks might have been able to take advantage of the absence of Toronto forward Pascal Siakam on Thursday night if they could have made some outside shots. Fred VanVleet scored 25 points and the Raptors, playing without their star forward, earned their first victory this season by beating the Knicks 100-83. New York's bid for a three-game win streak was ruined by 3-for-36 shooting from 3-point range. “If we would have made some of our 3s, we probably would have had a good chance to win,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. Siakam, who left the court promptly in frustration Tuesday night after fouling out of a game at Philadelphia, was on the Toronto bench but not in uniform. Norman Powell started at small forward and finished with 17 points after making three of Toronto's first four baskets. “Obviously it was a disciplinary thing for an internal matter. Let's keep it at that for tonight,” Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. Kyle Lowry had 20 points and seven rebounds... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Fred VanVleet scored 25 points and the Toronto Raptors, playing without star forward Pascal Siakam, earned their first victory this season by beating the New York Knicks 100-83 on Thursday night. New York's bid for a three-game win streak was ruined by 3-for-36 shooting from 3-point range. Siakam, who left the court promptly in frustration Tuesday night after fouling out of a game at Philadelphia, was on the Toronto bench but not in uniform. Norman Powell started at small forward and finished with 17 points after making three of Toronto's first four baskets. Kyle Lowry had 20 points for the Raptors (1-3). Julius Randle had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks (2-3). Reggie Bullock and RJ Barrett combined to go 0 for 17 from behind the arc. The Knicks fell behind by as many as 11 points early in the game and were were shooting only 29% (11 for 38) midway through the second quarter. But Randle scored eight straight points and put New York ahead for the first time with... [More]

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — LeBron James now stands alone in All-NBA recognition history, getting there unanimously.James was revealed Wednesday as an All-NBA player for a record 16th time, breaking the mark he shared with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. He was a first-team pick on all 100 ballots, joining Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only unanimous first-team selections this season.Joining them on the first team: Houston guard James Harden, Lakers forward Anthony Davis and Dallas guard Luka Doncic, who got the nod in just his second season in the NBA — becoming the first player to get there in either his first or second season since Duncan did for San Antonio. Duncan was first-team in each of his first eight NBA seasons, starting in 1997-98 and going through 2004-05.The 21-year-old Doncic is the sixth player to make All-NBA at that age or younger, joining Kevin Durant, James, Duncan, Rick Barry and Max Zaslofsky.James is a first-team pick for the 13th time... [More]