The Toronto Raptors have listed their star forward on the injury report. The latest Scottie Barnes injury update reveals that he is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Washington Wizards. Bettors must seriously consider whether Scottie Barnes is playing tonight before placing their wagers.
The Wizards and Raptors will tip off at 6 p.m. ET, so bettors and NBA DFS players should get an update well before lock. Those looking for an edge should heed this advice or check out OddsShopper’s tools for sharp NBA bets. A full subscription to OddsShopper Premium will help you find +ROI bets and become a profitable sports bettor!
Scottie Barnes Injury Update – NBA Betting Impact
The Toronto Raptors have had to live without Scottie Barnes over their last two games. They dropped the first to the Indiana Pacers but won the second against the Detroit Pistons. With the Raptors trying to claw their way up the Eastern Conference board before the play-in tournament, Barnes’ potential absence is a big deal for the team.
Barnes suffered a wrist injury in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 19. He logged only 13 minutes before exiting, and the Raptors went on to lose by seven points. It marked the beginning of Barnes’s second absence from the Raptors this year — Toronto played without him twice back in November, and the team went 1-1 in that stretch with a loss to the Brooklyn Nets and a win over the Dallas Mavericks.
When Barnes sits, the Raptors have recently opted to start Will Barton. The veteran wing played 23 minutes against the Pacers last week and finished with only four points. He followed that up with a nine-point performance in a blowout win over the Pistons. Barton is an obvious downgrade from Barnes, and his low-usage role should keep him off your radar for sports betting and DFS purposes.
Wizards-Raptors NBA Betting Tips & Advice
Barnes picked up a questionable tag before Toronto’s games against the Pacers and Pistons before getting ruled out, so it’s unclear whether he’ll actually suit up on Sunday. The Raptors are unlikely to take any unnecessary risks with their young star with a play-in tournament bid well within their grasp.
However, if any game were to force their hand, Sunday’s matchup with the Wizards could lead the Raptors to push for Barnes’ return. The Raptors are only 2.5 games ahead of the 12th-ranked Wizards, and a strong enough run from Washington down the stretch could eliminate Toronto. And since the Raptors are 5.6 points better with Barnes on the floor than without him, getting him back would prove significant.
Sunday’s contest is basically a playoff game for the Wizards. With eight games left on their schedule, Washington must find a way to pick up some ground on Toronto and the Chicago Bulls. Matchups with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets are should-win games, but with the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks on the schedule, the Wizards can’t afford to fumble against Toronto.
Once the market opens for Sunday’s Wizards-Raptors game, bettors should head to DraftKings Sportsbook to back the Wizards if Washington opens as a 5.5-point underdog or longer. Those new to DraftKings can earn $200 in bonus bets with a $5 wager. Bettors in Ohio can score the same deal but via this link instead!
