Fansided

Jonas Valanciunas questionable for Game 4 vs. Cleveland

By John Buhler

May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) gestures after scoring against Indiana Pacers in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) gestures after scoring against Indiana Pacers in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Center Jonas Valanciunas has been upgraded to questionable for the Toronto Raptors’ Game 4 at home versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.

According to the Toronto Raptors’ Media Relations Twitter account, starting center “Jonas Valanciunas has been upgraded to questionable for Game 4” on Monday night versus the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals.

This is fantastic news for the home underdog Raptors in Monday night’s pivotal Game 4 versus Cleveland. Toronto was able to steal Game 3 at home on Saturday night thanks to an outstanding game from Valanciunas’ replacement in the Raptors starting lineup in center Bismack Biyombo.

Toronto has had to play the last two weeks without their emerging star big man Valanciunas since he sprained his ankle in the Raptors’ Eastern Conference Semifinals series versus the Miami Heat. Toronto won that series in seven games, but losing Valanciunas didn’t help at all.

What a potential Game 4 return for Valanciunas to the Raptors could mean is that Toronto will have more explosiveness coming off their bench in their front court rotation. Biyombo has played spectacularly in Valanciunas’ absence, so perhaps it will be Biyombo who would play the bulk of the center minutes as Valanciunas is gradually worked back into the rotation.

The only issue with that is Toronto is still down two games to one to a deeper Cavaliers team. While bringing back Valanciunas into the fold mid-series could potentially serve as a boon to Toronto’s front court, will it truly be enough to pull off the upset over Cleveland?

Biyombo will have to continue to play lights-out in the front court, as well as see Valanciunas contribute in a positive manner as he comes back from injury. While he still could be held out of Monday night’s Game 4 at home, the thought of seeing Valanciunas in action might make it incredibly tough for the Cavaliers to win on the road at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto crowd will explode if Valanciunas takes the floor.

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