Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet will not play in Game 1 against the Washington Wizards, coach Dwane Casey confirmed before tip-off Saturday.
https://twitter.com/RaptorsMR/status/985244040173051904
VanVleet hurt his shoulder during Wednesday’s regular season finale against the Miami Heat Wednesday and was forced to exit that game in the fourth quarter. On Thursday, x-rays on the 24-year-old’s shoulder came back negative but he was still dealing with soreness that he, apparently, hasn’t been able to recover from in time for the start of the playoffs.
VanVleet averaged 8.6 points per game and shot 41.4 per cent from three-point range this season as the primary backup to Raptors starting point guard Kyle Lowry. With him unavailable, it’s likely that No. 3 point guard on the depth chard Delon Wright will see a lot more floor time Saturday.
Toronto opens it’s 2018 post-season campaign against the Wizards Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET.
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