The Toronto Raptors are saving their energy for some primetime matchups down the stretch of this season.
Wing RJ Barrett and centre Jakob Poeltl are set to sit out Friday's game against the Utah Jazz as they rest in the first half of a back-to-back, the team announced Thursday.
Barrett has suited up for the team's last eight games and has had a solid stretch of health since suffering a concussion in early February, causing him to miss five straight games.
The 24-year-old is averaging 21.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and a career-high 5.7 assists in 56 appearances during his first full season in Toronto.
Poeltl, meanwhile, has been more in and out of the lineup of late as he missed eight straight games with a hip injury in February. He has since operated on a minutes restriction and has been held out of chunks of fourth quarters in recent games.
The 29-year-old big man is averaging 14.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 49 games this season.
The Raptors are currently in the midst of a two-game win streak, coming off the back of consecutive wins against the Orlando Magic. They sit at 20-42 on the year and are four games back of the Chicago Bulls for the final play-in spot.
Barrett and Poeltl will join fellow inactives Ochai Agbaji (ankle), Gradey Dick (knee), Brandon Ingram (ankle) and Jonathan Mogbo (nose) on the injury report for Friday.
They play host to the Jazz on Friday night in the first half of a home back-to-back. Catch the action on Sportsnet ONE or stream on Sportsnet+.
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