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Josh Lewenberg: Jakob Poeltl is back in the starting lineup vs Milwaukee, and Ja’Kobe Walter gets the start in place of Scottie Barnes (out for personal reasons).
Brandon Ingram on Ja'Kobe Walter: “Well, on the defensive side of the basketball, he’s aggressive. On-ball defense, he makes guys not want to dribble the basketball. We actually kinda went at it in practice the other day, where he was kinda getting into my s*** and playing defense. And I definitely think he has that mentality every single time he steps on the floor. He has high character, so whenever he comes on the floor, he wants to do the best that he can. He’s willing to learn. Like I said, he gets better every single game. And overall, I think he’s gonna be a good pro in this league.”
Esfandiar Baraheni: UPDATE: Immanuel Quickley and Ja’Kobe Walter are AVAILABLE. Collin Murray-Boyles is OUT.
Blake Murphy: Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter are questionable for the Raptors on Sunday. Jakob Poeltl and Chucky Hepburn remain out.
Josh Lewenberg: A few changes to the Raptors’ injury report for tonight’s game vs the Clippers. Mamu (illness) has been upgraded to probable and Battle (ankle) has been ruled out. Barrett, Poeltl and Walter are out. Quickley still questionable.
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Raptors PR: Update: Ja’Kobe Walter (Right Hip Pointer) is OUT
Josh Lewenberg: On a night in which Ingram, Barnes and Quickley combined for 34 points on 14-for-46 from the field and 1-for-14 from 3, Shead, Dick and Walter had 44 points on 14-28 FG/6-14 3P. Monster defensive effort from CMB, Ja'Kobe and Shead to fuel the 4th-quarter comeback.
But Gradey Dick can read the room, and he knows that to keep progressing in Year 3, he’s got to keep pushing. And like Walter, he's grown to like and even look forward to the challenge. “I mean, as an athlete, and especially at the level that we're at now, I think it's why we play the game, honestly,” Dick said, in reference to the level of intensity required to compete at practice and earn a meaningful role. “I mean, yeah, it's better to compete against other teams, but the day-in, day-out, going against each other, it's like, it's just like a kind of an addiction at this point.”
Dick’s approach is similar. “It's just really buying into your role, at the end of the day,” said Dick, who turns 22 next month. “And I knew we had pieces coming in with (Brandon Ingram), an amazing player, who is going to be on the court first … and knowing that they'll go into different rotations and whatnot. So if I'm called to be in second rotation, called to be in first rotation, whatever it may be, I just got to buy into my role. And I'm completely grateful to have the opportunity because, at the end of the day, it's basketball, and I’ve played long enough where I know what a team needs, and guys that try to play outside their role, that kind of kills your chemistry, and no one on this team is like that. I think that's what makes this team special.”
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Doug Smith: I don’t know if it will happen but I do know there is mutual interest between Antetokounmpo and the Raptors. The wild card is the cost. But I also think the Raptors are uniquely placed to make an attractive offer that won’t ruin their franchise or roster. I would make the case that a logjam at the wings makes them deep enough that if they had to pay even two out of Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Ja’Kobe Walter, RJ Barrett, Jonathan Mogbo would still leave enough to fill out a pretty good team with promising young players still developing. Plus, they have all their picks, so giving a first-rounder every year for, say, four years, leaves enough.
Blake Murphy: Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl are both questionable Wednesday with the same MCP joint contusion on their right hands. Ja'Kobe Walter is out with right hip flexor tightness. Jamal Shead and Ochai Agbaji will rest. Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and Ulrich Chomche remain out.
Michael Granger: Raptors sweep season series vs. Sixers in with 127-109 win. RJ Barrett with 31-5-5. Ja’Kobe Walter with 17-8-4 and 3/5 on 3s; Jamison Battle with 16 and 7, with 4/8 from 3. Fellow rookies Jonathan Mogbo (13) and Jamal Shead (11) give Raptors four rookies in double figures for first time in franchise history.
Josh Lewenberg: Ja’Kobe Walter is available vs San Antonio.
