Toronto guard Jamal Shead’s strength may be his on-ball defense, but he likely will be asked to contribute more on offense Wednesday night when the injury-plagued Raptors face the visiting Boston Celtics.
Kawhi Leonard (knee swelling) hasn’t played in the past eight games for Toronto, which also has been without Scottie Barnes (groin strain) and Immanuel Quickley (hamstring tightness) for its past two contests. Shead started in both of those games and delivered a double-double each night.
The Raptors’ injury report lists Leonard and Barnes as out for Wednesday’s contest, and Quickley is questionable.
Shead had team highs of 20 points and 11 assists in Toronto’s 118-102 loss to Memphis on Monday. That showing came three nights after he contributed 10 points and a career-high 16 assists in a 121-107 victory over Milwaukee.
Shead is averaging 7.4 points and 7.0 assists in 24.3 minutes per game this season.
“The last couple of games when he’s got more extended minutes and a bigger role on the team, he’s really shining in those moments,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said. “He embraces the challenge that’s ahead of him, and he’s doing a great job.”
Leonard helped the Raptors start the season 2-0, averaging 19.5 points per game. Toronto is 3-5 since then, however.
Shead, 24, said he’s trying to make the most of his opportunity.
“Obviously (the injured players) are really important pieces for us and really important guys to our team, but when they’re out, it’s next man up,” he said. “I think it helped my confidence these last two games for sure. Knowing I’m going to play a lot, knowing I’m going to have to produce, knowing these guys are depending on me — it makes me play a little harder.
“I’m looking forward to the next game and seeing what we can build off this.”
Jakob Poeltl, who is averaging 8.5 points per game, also helped pick up the scoring slack by finishing with 18 points against Memphis and 19 vs. Milwaukee.
“In some of these games lately, we just haven’t had as many creators out there, so I feel like I have to do a little bit more,” he said.
The Celtics, meanwhile, stretched their winning streak to four games by beating Philadelphia 123-101 on Tuesday night. It was the first time the teams have met since Boston dealt Jaylen Brown to the 76ers in the offseason.
Paul George, who was acquired in that deal, made six 3-pointers and led the Celtics with 36 points on Tuesday. George is averaging 22 points per game this season.
“I’m healthy,” he said on the NBC broadcast after the game. “That was the biggest challenge, the biggest hurdle the first two years I was here in Philly. What I’ve learned is I’m a little bit better with more usage, and that’s no knock to how my opportunities here with Philly. Quite frankly, I wasn’t healthy to take on the workload that I feel I’m at my best at.
“Here in Boston, they gave me an opportunity to come out here and play and be myself. (Boston coach Joe Mazzulla) has integrated me right into the offense and allowed me to just be myself.”
The Celtics have won 11 of the last 12 meetings against the Raptors.
