Spurs Aim for Upset Against Raptors Despite Key Injuries

TORONTO, Ontario — The San Antonio Spurs are set to face the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 6:00 PM ET. Despite significant injuries to their roster, the Spurs are riding a two-game winning streak and are poised to challenge the Raptors, who are also navigating their own injury woes.

The Spurs, currently 28th in NBA defensive rating over their last ten games, will be without their star players Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox for the remainder of the season due to injuries. This has raised questions about their long-term strategy as they aim to improve their current position.

The Raptors, on the other hand, have ruled out several players for Sunday’s matchup, including Immanuel Quickley, Brandon Ingram, and Jakob Poeltl, indicating a possible focus on player development over immediate wins. Both teams are in the midst of a tight race for the best possible picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, making this game critical for their future.

“Using the most recent data, our experts ran 10,000 simulations of Sunday’s game,” said Damien Souness from Dimers. “After accounting for recent updates and other variables, our prediction shows the Raptors with a win probability of 55%, while the Spurs have 45%.”

San Antonio has seen promising performances from players like Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, and Devin Vassell, who have stepped up in the absence of their key players. Coach Gregg Popovich will be looking for strong outings from this trio against the Raptors’ defensive lineup, which features tough swingmen R.J. Barrett and Scottie Barnes.

Another pivotal player for the Spurs has been third-year guard Blake Wesley, who has proven to be a significant asset on both ends of the court. “Wesley has been one of the most impactful players on the team throughout their last few games,” said Popovich in a recent interview.

Toronto remains formidable on the offensive boards, currently ranking sixth in the NBA with an average of 12.4 offensive rebounds per game. The Spurs will need to focus on boxing out and securing rebounds to limit the Raptors’ second-chance opportunities.

With both teams looking to solidify their roster for the future, Sunday’s game will have implications beyond just the scoreboard. A win for San Antonio could catapult them over the Houston Rockets for 12th place in the Western Conference, closing the gap on a potential play-in tournament spot.

“If the Spurs can maintain their recent level of play, they may end up competing for the play-in tournament after all,” noted betting analyst Peter Dewey, who has been tracking the betting odds leading up to the game. Oddsmakers currently have the Raptors as slight favorites, despite their own injury concerns.

“Even though the Spurs are out of the play-in mix in the Western Conference, they’ve won back-to-back games and could pull off an upset against the shorthanded Raptors,” Dewey added.

The matchup will not only impact the standings but also the drafting strategies as both teams seek to shape their futures in the league.