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Fred VanVleet's Playing Status vs. Sixers in Game 5

With a win in Game 4 on Saturday in Toronto, the Raptors lived to see another day. Now, the Sixers and the Raptors will meet for Game 5 on Monday night.
Justin Grasso|
Fred VanVleet's Playing Status vs. Sixers in Game 5
Fred VanVleet's Playing Status vs. Sixers in Game 5

With a win in Game 4 on Saturday in Toronto, the Raptors lived to see another day. Now, the Sixers and the Raptors will meet for Game 5 on Monday night.

Throughout the series, the Raptors have battled several notable setbacks. During Game 1, Toronto lost two players as Thad Young sprained his thumb, and Scottie Barnes suffered an ankle injury.

Going into Game 2, both Young and Barnes were listed as doubtful due to their setbacks. Meanwhile, the veteran starter Gary Trent Jr. was added to the injury report as he was battling a non-COVID illness. 

Young and Trent went from doubtful to playing in Game 2 while Barnes missed the matchup. Then ahead of Game 3, both Trent and Young were expected to play from the jump while Barnes continued to miss time.

Fortunately for Toronto, they got everybody, including Barnes, back in time for Game 4. With a victory on Saturday afternoon, the Raptors remained alive in the postseason and forced a Game 5 in Philly on Monday. 

Although Toronto hoped to have a healthy roster for Game 5 as they attempt a comeback, they'll miss another critical player as Raptors guard Fred VanVleet told reporters on Monday morning that he doesn't plan to play due to a hip injury, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

VanVleet's absence on Monday could certainly hurt the Raptors as he's one of their most significant pieces on offense. Through the first three games, VanVleet averaged 16 points and seven assists.

Although he struggled in the 14 minutes he appeared on the court in Game 4, Toronto still got the job done and picked up an eight-point victory. VanVleet's absence will be notable, but the Sixers know they still have a tough matchup ahead of them as they've struggled against a VanVleet-less Toronto team this year.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_. 

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s Philadelphia 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia Threads: @JGrassoMedia

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