The Toronto Raptors may not be the only team receiving some much-needed reinforcements this weekend.
According to the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen, guards Chris Paul and Brandon Knight have been upgraded to questionable when the Houston Rockets host the Raptors Friday night.
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Paul, who returned to practice last Friday, has missed the last 16 games for the Rockets since going down with a hamstring injury on Dec. 20 in a loss to the Miami Heat. The 33-year-old has shot a career-low 41.5 per cent this season while averaging a career-low 15.6 points in an injury-riddled season that has limited the nine-time all-star to just 26 games.
Knight missed the entire 2017-18 season due to injury and has been checked to just 12 games this year. In just 9.8 minutes per game, the 27-year-old has averaged 3.0 points per game — almost 12 points less than his career average.
In their absence, the team has relied heavily on James Harden and he has not disappointed. Despite losing four starters to injury at various points, the Rockets (27-20) still remain fifth in the West thanks to the heroics of Harden and one of the greatest stretches of play by an individual in NBA history. The 29-year-old is coming off a career-high 61 points in a 114-110 win over the New York Knicks Wednesday.
James Harden scores a career-high & #Rockets franchise-record 61 points. He has now scored 30+ points in 21 straight games, averaging 43.1 points per game in that time. pic.twitter.com/f1TYGm15EU
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 24, 2019
The Raptors will welcome back Kawhi Leonard, who has missed the last four games due to load management/rest, and OG Anunoby, who missed the last five for personal reasons. Centre Jonas Valanciunas will once again not play for Toronto, while Houston will be without big man Clint Capela.
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