The Toronto Raptors will reportedly be without All-Star forward Pascal Siakam for at least the next three games due to the league's health and safety protocols.
After missing Friday's game against the Houston Rockets, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Siakam will be out through the All-Star break.
Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam is expected to remain in the league’s Health and Safety protocol through the All-Star break, missing the final three games of the first half, sources tell ESPN. Siakam sat out Friday’s victory over Houston in the protocol.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 27, 2021
The initial announcement of Siakam's absence came on the heels of the team's statement that head coach Nick Nurse and five other members of the Raptors' coaching staff would also miss time for the same reason.
Toronto is one of the few teams this season that has yet to have any games postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. The three remaining games of the first half are as follows.
- Sunday, Feb. 28, vs. Chicago Bulls, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Mar. 2, vs. Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Thursday, Mar. 4 at Boston Celtics, 7:00 p.m. ET
Assistant coach Sergio Scariolo assumed head coaching duties in Nurse's absence, leading the team to a win over the Rockets on Friday night. Chris Boucher started in place of Siakam against Houston.
Following a slow start the season, Siakam was getting back into All-Star form prior to this hurdle, averaging 20.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Raptors currently stand in at 17-17 and are in sole possession of the East's fourth seed.
NBA.com will continue to provide updates on this developing situation.
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