The Los Angeles Clippers head north to meet the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, and the final injury sheet might matter as much as the game plan. Tip is 7:30 PM EST at Scotiabank Arena, with TSN Sports carrying the broadcast. One team is red hot. The other is rising fast. Both could be missing important pieces.

The Clippers have surged back to life, winning four in a row and ripping off an 11–2 run after a 6–21 start. The Raptors just hammered Indiana, leading by as much as 27, and have climbed to within a game of the No. 2 seed in the East. Now, the focus turns to who is actually available.

Tipoff, TV details and why it matters

Friday’s matchup pairs two teams with momentum and a lot to prove. The Clippers are trying to turn a great December–January stretch into a true season reset. The Raptors, lifted by a big win and balanced scoring, want to show their climb is real against a Western opponent in form.

As one note put it plainly, “The Clippers have struggled the first half of the season, but they have won their last four games and are 11–2 since starting 6–21.” That is the snapshot: a contender’s ceiling with a thin margin for health.

Clippers’ surge meets injury questions

Two big names headline the LA injury watch: Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac. Leonard is listed as questionable with an ankle issue. Zubac is also questionable with a left ankle sprain and did not play in Wednesday’s win over the Wizards. One update framed the uncertainty clearly: “Leonard is hampered with an ankle injury, and it is uncertain if he will face Raptors on Friday.” Another added, “The Clippers have also listed Zubac as questionable with a left ankle sprain that caused him to miss Wednesday’s victory over the Wizards.”

Leonard has been brilliant when available: 29.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, with 3.2 threes. He drives their two-way identity. Zubac, at 8.9 points and 6.7 rebounds, is the main rim anchor and screener who frees up LA’s guards. If either sits, rotations and roles shift quickly.

“If Kawhi can’t go, is Harden ready to carry the whole load again?”

LA depth check: Collins, Beal, Bogdanovic and Jones Jr.

John Collins is questionable with a groin issue. His two-way stretch (12.8 points, 1.6 threes, 1.1 blocks) has been a helpful outlet for the guards. Bradley Beal remains out with left hip fracture/soreness, while Bogdan Bogdanovic is out with hip/right ankle sprain. Derrick Jones Jr. is also out with a Grade 2 MCL sprain and not expected back until late February.

That puts more on James Harden (21.2 points, 6.6 assists, 2.4 threes) to steer the offense and on Kris Dunn (1.4 steals per game) to set the defensive tone at the point of attack. If Zubac can’t go, LA may lean smaller at the five, using pace and shooting to make up for size.

“Small-ball Clippers can run, but who owns the glass without Zu?”

Raptors injury board: seven names to track

Toronto’s list is long. RJ Barrett is listed with a left ankle issue and his final status remained uncertain on Friday. Immanuel Quickley (back), Sandro Mamukelashvili (illness), and Garrett Temple (back) are questionable. Jakob Poeltl (back) and Ja’Kobe Walter (ankle/hip) are out. In total, the Raptors have seven injured players on the sheet.

Even with attrition, Toronto’s core has been effective. Scottie Barnes is the all-around engine (17.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.1 blocks). Brandon Ingram adds smooth scoring from the wing (20.2 points, 1.9 threes), and Quickley, if cleared, brings shooting and playmaking (15.1 points, 5.2 assists, 2.2 threes). Mamukelashvili has become a useful floor-spacer up front (1.4 threes), while rookie Collin Murray-Boyles supplies energy on the glass (6.0 rebounds) and defense.

Key matchups and numbers to know

Kawhi Leonard vs. Scottie Barnes: If Leonard plays, this is a star-on-star test. Leonard’s scoring and steals pressure any defense. Barnes, with his size and passing, can force switches and make LA rotate. If Kawhi sits, Barnes could see more traps but also more freedom to attack.

James Harden vs. Immanuel Quickley (if active): Harden’s pick-and-roll reads and deep range are the compass for LA. Quickley’s quick release and off-ball movement can punish any slow closeout. If Quickley is out, Toronto will rely more on Barnes and secondary handlers to initiate.

Frontcourt balance: With Jakob Poeltl out, Toronto’s size at center is thinner. If Zubac plays, LA has a clear advantage on the boards and in rim protection. If not, the matchup could tilt toward pace and spacing, where Mamukelashvili’s shooting and Ingram’s midrange craft can stretch the Clippers.

Other Clippers numbers matter, too. John Collins brings 1.1 blocks and 1.6 threes that fit well next to Harden. Kris Dunn (1.4 steals) can make life hard for Toronto’s guards. For the Raptors, Ingram’s 20.2 points and Quickley’s 2.2 made threes give them efficient perimeter punch.

“Raptors are a game from the 2-seed—this is a statement chance.”

What to watch on Friday night

• Availability at the top: Leonard and Zubac for LA; Quickley, Barrett, and Mamukelashvili for Toronto. The first update at warmups could swing the spread and the style.
• Glass battle: No Poeltl shifts rebounding pressure to Toronto’s wings and backups. If Zubac sits, both teams may chase long rebounds and run more.
• Three-point volume: The Clippers lean on spacing (Harden, Leonard, Collins). The Raptors have seen lifts from Ingram and Quickley. Hot hands could decide it.

Big-picture stakes

For the Clippers, this is about proving that their 11–2 heater is not a blip. Harden’s control, Leonard’s two-way force, and Zubac’s stability at the rim are their blueprint. For the Raptors, this is about stacking wins while shorthanded and keeping pressure on the East’s top tier. Beating a Western team in form, even at home, strengthens that case.

Health will tell a lot of the story. If Kawhi plays, the Clippers carry the best player on the floor and a crunch-time advantage. If he doesn’t, Barnes and Ingram have the stage to tilt this toward Toronto, especially if Quickley is cleared. Either way, expect urgency, short rotations, and a tight fourth quarter.

It’s a classic midseason test: two hot teams, a crowded injury sheet, and fine margins. By the final buzzer, we’ll learn a little more about LA’s revival—and whether Toronto is ready to sit among the East’s elite.