Cavaliers-Raptors Preview
By DAN PIERINGER, STATS Writer
Posted Nov 29 2007 5:07PM

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Though both teams were beneficiaries of what may be one of the best draft classes in NBA history in 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors may have to play Friday without the superstars they selected that year.

It's possible LeBron James and Chris Bosh will sit out with injuries when the Raptors face the Cavaliers at Air Canada Centre.

James will be a game-time decision for this matchup, and is listed as day-to-day after spraining his left index finger in the second quarter of Cleveland's game against Detroit on Wednesday. The Cavaliers (9-7) said X-rays were negative after the game, and an MRI taken Thursday confirmed the sprain.

Bosh, the leading scorer and rebounder for the Raptors (8-7), also left in the second quarter on Wednesday after suffering a groin strain against Memphis.

Asked how long he thought he'd be sidelined, Bosh said, "I don't think very long at all. I'm just taking it day-by-day right now. I'll treat it tomorrow, get some good stretching and make sure I take care of it."

The Raptors already had been playing without starting point guard T.J. Ford, the eighth overall pick in that same 2003 draft which also included Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Josh Howard.

Ford has missed four games since suffering a stinger when he was kneed in the chest by Howard on Nov. 20. He's complained of tingling in his left arm, and is day-to-day.

Toronto forward Andrea Bargnani also is day-to-day after leaving Wednesday's game with a bruised knee.

Despite the rash of injuries, the Raptors held on to defeat the Grizzlies 103-91. Anthony Parker had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists as seven Toronto players scored in double figures.

Starting in Ford's place, Jose Calderon had 13 points and 10 assists. He has 37 assists and only two turnovers in his last three games.

"He's playing great," Parker said. "He's getting guys the ball where they're comfortable with it, he's getting it on time and when they back off him, he's hitting the shots. He's playing with a lot of confidence."

The Raptors escaped with a win despite their injuries, but the Cavaliers weren't as lucky.

Despite leaving in the second quarter, James finished as Cleveland's leading scorer with 15 points as the Cavaliers matched a season-low point total in their 109-74 loss to Detroit. The defeat snapped Cleveland's four-game win streak.

"They did whatever they wanted against us," Brown said.

Before Wednesday, James was averaging 37.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 10.0 assists in his previous seven games, but the Cavaliers say they'll be prepared to play without him if they have to.

"It's tough to not have him out there - he's our leader - but we have to keep playing," said forward Drew Gooden, who's averaging 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds in his last three games while shooting 58.5 percent from the field. "Injuries happen, and you can't just give up."

The Cavaliers have won eight of nine games against the Raptors, including four in a row. James had 37 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in Cleveland's 111-108 home win over Toronto on Saturday. Bosh had 41 points in that game.

GO RAPTORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!