The AltRaps Blog

TSN : NBA - Canada’s Sports Leader
The Toronto Raptors injury picture remained murky Thursday as the team prepared to host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Chris Bosh wasn’t at practice while Andrea Bargnani barely practised and T.J. Ford stayed behind long after his teammates left, trying to work himself back into game shape.

All three players are nursing a various assortment of ailments heading into Friday’s game against the Cavs (TSN, 7pm et/4pm pt).

Bosh skipped practice to have diagnostic testing done on his strained right groin, which he suffered in practice earlier in the week. The all-star forward, who was finally rounding into form after missing much of the pre-season with a knee injury, tried to play in Wednesday’s 103-91 win over Memphis, but only made it 12 minutes before limping to the locker-room.

Bargnani, who bruised his knee late in Wednesday’s game when he banged into Stromile Swift, did some light shooting at practice but hopes he’ll be good to go against the Cavaliers.

”I got some shots, I feel pretty good,” said the sophomore centre. ”It hurt a lot, (Swift) hit me good. It’s a little bit sore, but it’s not a big deal, it will be all right.”

Ford has missed four games since suffering a left arm ‘’stinger,” an irritation of the nerves that radiates down the arms. With his left thumb taped, the point guard hoisted up shot after shot in an otherwise empty gym Thursday before finally making his way over to talk to reporters.

”I’m just trying to get a good sweat,” said Ford, breathing heavily. ”A lot of guys were out today due to injury and some guys needed a rest, so I just needed to put in the extra time to get a sweat and try to get into a rhythm and try to get in some type of shape.”