DeMar DeRozan checked out of the Toronto Raptors’ game in the third quarter on Friday and is questionable to return due to flu-like symptoms.
There’s no flu game going on here, as DeRozan was 0-of-10 from the floor before leaving. He hit all four of his free-throw attempts but four points, six rebounds, and two assists in 27 minutes isn’t exactly doing it against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s an uncharacteristically poor game for the All-Star, who is averaging 23.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, four assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 44.6 percent from the floor and 34.9 percent on threes.
His struggles have left the scoring load on Kyle Lowry, who’s doing his damndest. Lowry has 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go with six assists but the Raptors trail 77-68 entering the fourth quarter.
DeRozan sitting will mean more minutes down the stretch for Terrence Ross and James Johnson, and perhaps spot duty on the wing for Norman Powell or Anthony Bennett, if head coach Dwane Casey wants to get really crazy. It probably also means a lot of Cory Joseph and Lowry sharing the floor in the fourth, as they’ll need the extra playmaking in DeRozan’s absence.
UPDATE: He checked back in with five minutes to play, the Raptors stuck nine.
