Just as Kelly Olynyk was rounding into form the injury bug has bitten him.
The Toronto Raptors’ forward will be out for a road tilt against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday due to right calf tightness, the team announced.
Olynyk left Thursday’s win against the Hawks midway through the third quarter because of the injury and did not return.
The big man has made 21 appearances for his hometown Raptors this season, averaging 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 48.6 per cent from beyond the arc. Olynyk missed the first 23 games of the 2024-25 season due to a back injury.
His latest injury puts a halt to his strongest stretch of play to this point. The 33-year-old scored at least 10 points in each of his last three outings for Toronto, the first time he’s done that this year. Over that stint, Olynyk averaged 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and a steal.
Olynyk’s strong play, along with a couple of other vets, has been a big reason why the Raptors have also had their best patch of games. Toronto enters Saturday having won four of its last five for the first time under head coach Darko Rajakovic. Before leaving against Atlanta on Thursday, Olynyk racked up 11 points on three-of-four shooting to go with four rebounds, five assists and a steal.
The 12-year NBA vet now joins a Raptors injury list that also includes Ochai Agbaji (hand laceration) and Immanuel Quickley (hip strain). Rookie Jonathan Mogbo will not be available against the Hawks as well, as he’s on assignment with the Raptors 905 along with two-ways Jamison Battle, Ulrich Chomche and AJ Lawson.
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