Ja’Kobe Walter scores team-high 22 points vs. MIN

Because of a left knee effusion and swelling, Leonard has not played in a game since October 23. He’s progressed in his recovery and will return to Toronto to ramp up. Leonard will be re-evaluated in one week, so a return to game action may be close. Ja’Kobe Walter should remain in the starting lineup until Leonard returns.

In the first game without Kawhi Leonard, he did exactly what the Raptors wanted him to do. He hit three points, he defended well, eh was low usage and allowed the more gifted offensive players to have the ball. Ja’Kobe has really emerged as a good bench scorer and defender in the NBA. He should be in the league for a while given his skill set. In dynasty, he should be someone to watch if his role ever expands.

Kawhi Leonard is out with knee soreness, so Ja’Kobe Walter will get the start against the Magic. He’s useful if you need some points and 3’s but he likely will not be much more than a deeper league guy. Look for Barnes, Quickley, and Barrett to pick up the slack without Kawhi.

According to Shams, an MRI revealed no structural damage, but the Raptors are being cautious with the superstar and will keep an eye on his knee while ramping him back up. In his absence, Ja’Kobe Walter should see an increased role. Walter started on Sunday and finished with 22/4/2 with three “stocks” and five triples. Guys like Jamal Shead and Collin Murray-Boyles could also be in line for bumps in playing time, but Walter is the preferred add from a fantasy basketball perspective.

Due to left knee swelling, Kawhi Leonard will not play in Sunday’s game. Walter will replace him in the starting lineup, and the third-year wing is worth streaming in deep leagues because of the opportunity.

A late addition to the Raptors’ injury report, Leonard will not play on Sunday due to swelling in his left knee. Ja’Kobe Walter will likely replace him in the starting lineup, which could slightly raise his fantasy ceiling.

Walter’s continued development will be vital for the Raptors this season. They have a ton of versatile talent, but his shooting and perimeter defense will complete a lot of unique lineups. He played well in this game after struggling in other preseason outings, which was encouraging to see. He may not be worthy of more than a late-round dart throw, but he could have value as a streamer at times this season.

Walter has come up big for the Raptors the last two games, totaling 44 points on 14-of-29 shooting from the field. With Brandon Ingram (heel) exiting Game 5 during the second quarter and sitting out Game 6, not to mention Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) missing the entire series, the second-year wing’s contributions have been much-needed. Walter should get another start in Game 7 on Sunday, and the Raptors will need a similar performance if they’re to advance.

After starting Games 3 and 4 and shooting a combined 0-of-15 from the field, much was not expected of Walter going into Game 5. The second-year wing found his groove in Cleveland, shooting 6-of-14 from beyond the arc. The six three-pointers and 20 points were postseason career-highs for Walter, who has two regular-season games with six three-pointers on his résumé. Regardless of what happens with Brandon Ingram, who exited Wednesday’s game in the second quarter with a right heel injury, the Raptors will need Walter to knock down some shots to provide relief for the team’s top scoring options.

Ingram played 11 minutes in Game 5 before aggravating a right heel injury that he’s been dealing with for a few weeks. The initial plan was to retape the foot, but the soreness was too much for the veteran wing to play through. Ja’Kobe Walter, who started and has already made five three-pointers, takes on added importance, as will Jamal Shead.