After a lengthy absence from game action, Andrea Bargnani is almost back… for the second time.

Bargnani, who has missed the last 20 games after he aggravated a strained left calf injury in the Raptors’ double OT win in Utah on January 25th, confirmed it after Thursday’s practice at ACC. Depending on how he responds to the first practice and another on Friday, the team’s leading scorer should return either Saturday in Detroit or at ACC Sunday against the Bucks.

Bargnani’s second setback came well into a second game in as many ...

An astute observation from our #RTZ Tweet of the Night winner @BarryMRubin, which certainly held up as DeRozan turned in a potent performance at both ends of the floor in the Raptors’ 116-98 win over the visiting Rockets at ACC on Wednesday.

DeRozan’s recent resurgence, with six outings of at least 20 points in his last eight games after a very tough start, has been emblematic of this years Raptors, who are proving to be increasingly difficult to pin down and rounding into form.

“I think this is probably the most games ...

Andrea Bargnani is nearing a return to the Raptors.

Head coach Dwane Casey did not offer an exact return date for the team’s leading scorer after Wednesday morning’s shootaround at ACC, but did reveal that Bargnani is expected to be a full participant in Thursday’s practice. How Bargnani’s calf responds to that full contact workout (and likely another practice on Friday), will be key to determining if he can return at some point this weekend with games in Detroit on Saturday or at home Sunday against the Bucks.

In other lineup news, ...

Our winning #RTZ Tweet from Monday courtesy of @TTOTambz is right. To see JJ Redick join a growing rogues gallery of Raptors heartbreakers this season seems like a less than deserving fate for a team that’s been outgunned for much of the season, but rarely outworked for over a month now.

But as head coach Dwane Casey pointed out post-game, the fight should be commended but it’s the slip — not the fall — that’s doing the Raptors in. In Monday’s 92-88 loss to the visiting Magic for example, it came ...

The Raptors received what’s hopefully a lasting lesson in how solid, energetic defence can keep you afloat with an 83-75 win over the Warriors at ACC.

“We found a a way and we did it with our defence,” said Dwane Casey post-game. “There are going to be nights where you can’t buy a bucket, but that is when you have to dig in and trust your defence and we did.”

It certainly wasn’t consistent, as the Raptors came out flat and hit the break trailing 47-38. But Casey proceeded to challenge his ...

It may have been the Raptors’ first of two matchups against a solid Rockets squad this season on Tuesday, but the script seemed to be a familiar one.

One letdown quarter — this time being the first — just proved too costly for a team with a near microscopic margin of error. To the Raptors’ credit, they battled incredibly hard down the stretch (with several starters on the bench) and had a shot to tie it down 86-83  with 11 seconds to play, but they couldn’t get a good look out ...

Wednesday’s win over the Pistons at ACC brought the Raptors brought a little validation after days of prep time and with the presence of an unexpected restricted free agent, might have hinted at some change on the horizon for the 10-23 club.

On the floor, the Raptors looked every bit the more rested, focused team. Their willingness to share the ball (30 assists on 40 made field goals), ability to execute offensively (52.6% shooting from the floor) and a renewed commitment to defence helped them build a big lead before hanging ...

NBA.com Preview | Game Notes

Probable Starters

TOR – Jose Calderon (G), DeMar DeRozan (G), James Johnson (F), Amir Johnson (F), Aaron Gray (C).
DET– Brandon Knight (G), Rodney Stuckey (G), Tayshaun Prince (F), Jason Maxiell (F), Greg Monroe (C)

Key Injuries

TOR – Andrea Bargnani (left calf strain) – out, Linas Kleiza (sore left knee) – game-time decision
DET – Charlie Villanueva (sore right ankle) – out

After a breakneck pace to start this condensed season, the Raptors were back at practice Tuesday for a third time in four straight non-game days.

The long layoff has made it increasingly difficult for head coach Dwane Casey to get his team ready for actual game conditions, but on the plus side, it has also afforded him an opportunity to work on some key areas of concern such as slow starts and late-game execution.

More from coach Casey on matching up with a healthy Pistons team beginning to fire on all ...

Click here to ask questions for the next edition of Ask Jack

Jack Armstrong has answers to more of your recent Raptors questions.

Can’t see the EventBox? Click Here.

Voices Heard Media

We’ll be asking Jack more of your questions very soon. Submit them here or vote other ones up and down and he’ll answer a few every week. Don’t forget to include your name with your question so Jack can personalize his response to you.