Report: Raptors' DeRozan to return Thursday
The Toronto Raptors may have lost first place in the Eastern Conference by half a game with Friday night's loss to the Golden State Warriors, but they did receive some good news. Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan should be back next week:
Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan slated to return next Thursday vs Hornets after missing last 17 games with a left thigh injury,source told Yahoo
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) January 3, 2015
Spears' tweet lines up with what the National Post's Eric Koreen reported New Year's Day, that DeRozan would likely return when the Raps returned to Toronto from their current six-game road swing.
DeRozan, an All-Star in 2014, suffered a torn adductor longus tendon on Nov. 28. The Raptors' depth has paid off in his absence, as they've gone 11-6 without him. His injury has modified the Raps' offensive approach, as their assist rate has jumped from 19.6 per game with him to 22.1 without him.