Atlantic Notes: Barrett, Poeltl, Brunson, Hart, Embiid, George, Hauser

The Raptors are optimistic that forward RJ Barrett will be able to return to action soon, according to Michael Grange of SportsNet. Barrett has missed 21 of the past 27 games due to a knee injury and a sprained ankle, but Grange states that he “showed no ill effects” after a hard workout prior to Sunday’s contest. There’s hope that he can be back on the court at some point during the current road trip, possibly by Wednesday’s game at Sacramento.

The team is less optimistic about center Jakob Poeltl, who has made just one brief appearance since December 15 because of a lower back strain. Poeltl also went through a pre-game workout on Sunday, but Grange said it wasn’t nearly at full game speed. Toronto has reportedly explored Poeltl’s value on the trade market, but the lingering injury could make it tough to move him before the deadline.

Rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been seeing time at center during Poeltl’s absence, but he had to leave Sunday’s game in the third quarter after being hit on the hand by Luka Doncic. X-rays were negative, and Murray-Boyles was diagnosed with a bruised thumb.

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

• Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart were both able to participate Sunday in the Knicks‘ off-day workout, sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link). Both players are listed as questionable for today’s game against Dallas, with Brunson recovering from a right ankle sprain he suffered last Wednesday and Hart dealing with right ankle soreness.
• Joel Embiid and Paul George are both questionable as the Sixers prepare to host Indiana tonight, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Both players may be held out due to left knee injury management.
• Sam Hauser fell just short on Saturday in his attempt to break the Celtics‘ record for most made three-pointers in a game, writes Jay King of The Athletic. There was plenty of time remaining when Hauser tied Marcus Smart at 11, but he misfired on his final six attempts. “At that point, it was just like, let’s get them up. Let’s see what happens,” Hauser said. “And then I got dead tired. The last couple, they were on (target), they were just way short. So it is what it is.”