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Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas defends the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas defends the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Jonas Valanciunas Injury: Updates on Raptors Center's Knee and Return

Joseph ZuckerNov 6, 2016

Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunasย was dealing with a knee contusion suffered prior to the team's Nov. 6 game against the Sacramento Kings. However, he's ready to return.

Continue for updates.

Valanciunas Active vs. Hornets

Friday, Nov. 11

The Raptors' media relations team announced Valanciunas will be in the starting lineup on Friday.

Valanciunas Crucial to Raptors Frontcourtย 

Valanciunas steadily improved over each of his first four seasons in the league. In 2015-16, he averaged career highs in points (12.8) and rebounds (9.1) per game, and his 22.6 player efficiency rating was the best mark of his career, per Basketball-Reference.com.

The 24-year-old Lithuanian was still a liability on the defensive end, though. According to NBA.com, the Raptors allowed 4.5 more points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor last year.

Injuries were another concern for Valanciunas. He missed 22 regular-season games and eight of Toronto's 20 postseason games. A healthy Valanciunas may not have swung the Eastern Conference Finals in the Raptors' favor, but they were at a disadvantage with their big man at less than 100 percent.

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