Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl near return after long injury layoff

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The Toronto Raptors might finally be at full strength.

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Jakob Poeltl, the team’s injured centre who has missed the past 23 games and 25-of-26 due to a frustrating back injury, went through full practice Saturday and, barring a setback, could play Sunday at home against Indiana on a minutes restriction.

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Poeltl declined to go in depth about the injury, but said he felt normal on the court and was looking forward to rejoining his teammates.

“We saw a lot of doctors about it. To be honest I don’t want to get into too much details about it,” Poeltl said. “The point is I’m feeling better now, I did a couple different treatment options. So, yeah, I’m glad to be feeling better.”

Toronto has gone 13-6 in games Poeltl has played at least 19 minutes and dearly has missed its best rebounder, screen-setter and interior defender.

There have been prior setbacks with the back, but Poeltl doesn’t intend to let that bother him.

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“I’m learning as I’m going on with this whole process, through this stretch of however many weeks where I couldn’t play it and even before, when it was it was more manageable for me and now I’m in a different situation again,” Poeltl said.

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“So I’m gonna go into these games with confidence and hopeful that it’s gonna stay this way, and I’m just gonna play it by ear pretty much.”

STARTERS NOT TOGETHER A LOT

Toronto only has had 12 games all year with its optimal starting five all active. The group has been fantastic offensively (121.5 points per 100 possessions, which is better than what Denver averages as a team, which leads the NBA), but leaky defensively.

There’s a chance they’ll all be together Sunday, though Immanuel Quickley suffered a minor ankle tweak at practice and will be listed as questionable for the game against an Indiana team that is about to go into the tank in hopes of keeping its draft pick (the Pacers keep it if it lands in the Top 4).

Poeltl said while he was out he noticed that the Raptors play best when they get aggressive defensively and get out and run.

“I’ll try to just slot myself in there and keep that concept going,” he said.

The uncertainty of the injury wasn’t the only thing that made the past few weeks a bit odd for Poeltl. There also were constant trade rumours for big men like Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis and even Walker Kessler more recently.

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Since he already has been traded twice, though — in the Kawhi Leonard blockbuster, alongside DeMar DeRozan, and later back to the Raptors — Poeltl said any chatter didn’t bother him.

“No, not really. Every trade deadline obviously there’s a lot of talk going on,” Poeltl said when asked about it by the Toronto Sun.

“There’s a lot more conversations with, even with Bobby (Webster), with my agent, stuff that’s going on, but at the end of the day, I know how this game works. I know that there’s always a chance for players to get traded,” he said.

“Sometimes might be more likely. Sometimes might be less likely. But I’m just taking it one day at a time, and I’m focusing on being here. And if ever something happens, then I’ll take it from there. But for now, I’m happy to be here, and I want to keep that going.”

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