With the playoffs on the horizon, Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey isn't taking any chances with his veterans.
The Raptors will rest star point guard Kyle Lowry, starting forward Luis Scola, and All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan in Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers.
Swingman DeMarre Carroll will also sit out, although his absence is tied to his recent recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Having played in Atlanta on Thursday, there's little sense in the Raptors racking up extra miles on their older players. Regardless of how the last week of the season plays out, the Raptors will be locked into the second seed in the East.
As it happens, the beneficiary of the Raptors' rest strategy are the Pacers, who could clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday.