What to know
- The Toronto Raptors fell to the Boston Celtics after trailing throughout the game, playing short-handed without Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Jakob Poeltl.
- R.J. Barrett was among the Raptors’ top players but exited after twisting his left ankle.
- Fans are cautiously optimismtic as they await for an update on Barrett’s injury.
The Toronto Raptors’ starting lineup ahead of tomorrow’s game is up in the air, with R.J. Barrett taken off the court due to an ankle injury during last night’s game against the Boston Celtics.
It was a tight game as the Raptors trailed closely behind the Celtics through the first three quarters.
It was a game Raptors fans were nervous going into, with Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Jakob Poeltl all sidelined due to injury. Meanwhile, the Celtics had won four of the five games coming into Friday night.
“Good ol’ fashioned curb stomping by the Celtics on a Friday night,” one Reddit user predicted leading up to the game.
“Everyone is going to need to contribute tonight,” wrote another.
Though the remaining players put up a fight, the seven-point lead the Celtics established in the first quarter proved too big a gap for the Raptors to close.
Last night’s top performers were Immanuel Quickley with 17 points, 2 rebounds, and 13 assists, Ja’Kobe Walter with a 19-6-1, and R.J. Barrett with 19-4-7.
Barrett was also a game leader in the team’s buzzer-beating 97-96 game against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, with a game-high of 28 points – 16 of which were in the fourth quarter – and seven rebounds.
The team suffered a blow when Barrett twisted his left ankle with less than five minutes left on the clock. He was escorted to the locker room and did not return.
RJ Barrett leaves for the locker room after rolling his ankle. He is out for the remainder of the game. pic.twitter.com/rzOGTAvwXq
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 10, 2026
Last night’s injury comes after Barrett was forced to sit out for 15 consecutive games between November and December due to a knee sprain. He had only just returned to the court on Dec. 28 for a winning game against the Golden State Warriors.
“Actually SCREAMED when it happened,” a Reddit user wrote. “Best wishes for a speedy recovery, but man that looked bad.”
With another man down, fans are anxiously waiting for news on the severity of the injury.
“We have to see what the actual diagnosis is… there’s a big difference between a standard low ankle sprain and a high ankle sprain,” one Reddit user wrote.
“Could be fine tomorrow, could need surgery, who knows,” another wrote.
Some remain optimistic based on the fact that Barrett wasn’t carried out on a stretcher.
“He walked completely normal by himself to the locker room, putting weight on the injured ankle on the way,” one Reddit user wrote, “Encouraging sign.”
Speaking to reporters from the locker room, Barrett was thankful for his teammates who continued to fight the fight, “Other guys stepped up and played well today, so I’m just hoping we build on that. … I’ll sleep on it, see how I feel tomorrow, go from there.”
Raptors Head Coach Darko Rajakovic says Barrett’s injury will be evaluated this morning.
The Raptors return to the court for two back-to-back home games against the Philadelphia 76ers Jan. 11 at 6:00 p.m. EST. and Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
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