By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Led by Pascal Siakam playing at top form, the Toronto Raptors have secured five wins in the first nine showings of the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season.
Siakam, 28, was diagnosed with a right adductor muscle strain and will be sidelined for at least two weeks, the team announced Sunday. Afterward, he is expected to be reevaluated. He was injured in the third quarter of the recent loss to the Dallas Mavericks and was initially listed as doubtful to play against the Chicago Bulls tonight.
The Cameroonian is up to 24.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks per contest in the host start to the season. He leads the Raptors in points, rebounds, and assists per game. Among the players looking to cover as much as possible is British OG Anunoby, who is coming off a season-high 27 points against the Mavs Friday.
The team coached by Nick Nurse will resume action by hosting the Bulls in the first half of a home-and-away series to be completed in Chicago’s United Center Monday. Fred VanVleet (lower back) and Khem Birch (right knee soreness) are both listed as questionable to play in the first of the two games.
Coming out of New Mexico State, Siakam was picked up by Toronto with the 27th overall selection of the 2016 NBA draft. Loyal to the Raptors, the 2022-23 season is the seventh in a row at the lone NBA franchise in Canada. The 2019 NBA championship highlights the lengthy run.
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