Patrick Patterson is available to return to Game 5. He may not want to, though.
The Toronto Raptors power forward appeared to be in some discomfort before checking out midway through the second quarter, and the team sent him for a precautionary X-ray on his left hand as a result. He’s been diagnosed with a contusion after X-rays came back negative, and he can return if needed.
UPDATE: He returned in the third.
Down 31 at half time, the Raptors need all the help they can get if they’re going to mount such an historic comeback. Nobody played “well” in the disaster of a first half, and Patterson was a minus-13 in 12 minutes, knocking down a lone three and being held without a rebound.
If he’s limited, expect a heavier load on DeMarre Carroll and James Johnson as smaller fours, and perhaps extended run for Luis Scola. Or hey, maybe the Raptors go back to the weird Jonas Valanciunas-Bismack Biyombo look they tried for 2:37 in the first half.
