DeMar DeRozan had been a remarkably durable player for the Toronto Raptors in
his first six seasons, missing just 10 games out of a possible 394 due to
injury. He is the only Raptors player to start all 82 games twice, and he has
missed only two since the end of the 2012-13 season
DeRozan, Toronto’s leading scorer (19.4 points) and minutes-man (33.6 per
game), left the Raptors’ game Friday at Dallas at 8:23 of the third quarter
with what was called a strained left groin. He wound up going scoreless in
the 106-102 loss, only the fourth time in his career and the first since
April 11, 2010.
The injury comes as Toronto starts a three-games-in-four-nights trip to face
the L.A. Lakers Sunday, Sacramento Tuesday and Utah Wednesday. The 6-foot-7
wing player, who ranked third in the NBA in free throws and free-throw
attempts and ninth in field-goal attempts, was averaging 25.2 points in five
road games this season.
Toronto is 8-3 in the games DeRozan has missed in his career, including one
last April for rest before the playoffs.