Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas will return to the lineup from a sprained right ankle, giving the Raptors a boost in Game 4 as they attempt to even their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Cavaliers at two.
Jonas Valanciunas will return from ankle injury in Game 4 vs. Cavaliers
The Raptors center will come off the bench.
Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Valanciunas will come off the bench, so presumably he will play limited minutes. Bismack Biyombo will continue to start for the Raptors.
Valanciunas has not played since spraining the ankle in the third quarter of Game 3 against the Miami Heat on May 7. He was immediately ruled out for that second-round series and subsequently shut down for the beginning of the Eastern Conference Finals. Prior to the injury, Valanciunas was having a breakout postseason, averaging 15 points and more than 12 rebounds in 10 games.
Biyombo has started in Valanciunas’ place and had his moments, including a 26-rebound performance in Toronto’s Game 3 victory over Cleveland. But the Raptors’ bench has been thin behind him, and Toronto has missed Valanciunas’ scoring ability in the post and on offensive rebounds.
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