Toronto Raptors middle Jontay Porter is away from the group as a result of he’s the topic of a playing investigation, in keeping with a report Monday.
ESPN reported that video games on Jan. 26 and March 20 are beneath investigation — particularly, prop bets associated to Porter’s statistics. The Athletic confirmed that Porter shouldn’t be with the group at present. The Raptors play the Brooklyn Nets on Monday evening in Toronto. Porter was additionally not with the group when the Raptors misplaced to the Wizards on Saturday in Washington, D.C. He had seven factors and eight assists the evening earlier than in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
The Raptors declined to remark, and an NBA spokesperson informed The Athletic, “We’re wanting into it.”
“We now have no touch upon this story,” a DraftKings spokesman mentioned Monday. “Basically, it is very important observe that one of many many advantages of authorized and controlled sports activities betting is that sports activities betting operators establish and report suspicious exercise and the integrity of sport is subsequently protected in a way that doesn’t exist within the unlawful market.”
Porter’s prop bets have been the highest moneymaking bets on two totally different nights of NBA motion during the last two months, when the beneath on 0.5 3-pointers made hit at -120 on Jan. 26, and on March 20 when his props have been the largest moneymakers that evening within the NBA, in keeping with the DraftKings Sportsbook Insights, which is printed each day and distributed to media members. A DraftKings spokesman, nevertheless, couldn’t verify its accuracy.
Because the media entered the Raptors’ locker room earlier than Monday’s sport, a number of gamers have been their telephones in a small circle. When requested about it, Porter’s teammate, Jordan Nwora, mentioned he didn’t know something past what had been posted on X.
Raptors coach Darko Rajaković mentioned he didn’t turn into conscious of the playing investigation of Porter till Monday, and mentioned nothing was amiss within the two video games he left early, as he doesn’t doubt his gamers.
“No person needs these conditions to anyone, to any group,” Rajaković mentioned.
Wednesday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings was one of many video games that was reportedly beneath particular scrutiny. Porter performed fewer than three minutes earlier than leaving with what the Raptors referred to as an sickness. With beginning middle Jakob Poeltl out with a left hand harm, Porter has been the backup to Kelly Olynyk at middle lately.
The league has an official relationship with SportsRadar, a betting knowledge international distributor. SportsRadar, together with different licensed companions, may notify the league if a participant positioned a guess.
The Raptors signed Porter to a two-way contract on Dec. 8. He has performed 26 video games, averaging 4.4 factors, 3.2 rebounds and a pair of.3 assists per sport in 26 contests this season. Gamers on two-way contracts make $559,782 this yr, half of the rookie minimal. As Porter signed partway into the season, he’ll make a pro-rated share of that.
Porter began the season with the Motor Metropolis Cruise of the G League. He performed 11 video games with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020-21, and has largely been within the G League since then. He has additionally battled a number of accidents in each school and the NBA.
(Picture: Alika Jenner / Getty Pictures)