DeRozan expected to miss the next two games

The old “when it rains it pours” adage applies here: DeMar DeRozan, recently named all-star starter and the Raptors’ leading scorer, has a sprained right ankle. It happened in the fourth quarter of the very bad, no good game against the Suns, which Toronto lost.

That it also happened because DeRozan landed on teammate Jonas Valanciunas’ foot is just another drop in the bucket of misery we’re collecting at the moment. DeRozan will now miss tomorrow’s game against the Spurs (no big deal, right?) and presumably Wednesday’s showdown in Memphis.

Obviously, things in Raptor-land are a bit tense right now. The team just lost its third game in a row for the first time since late 2015. They have clearly slipped defensively. And every time one good thing happens — hey maybe DeMarre Carroll is all the way back! — something else bad happens — will Kyle Lowry touch the 40 percent mark from 3 again? It’s been a real rollercoaster in 2017.

This was supposed to be a fantastic time for the Raptors. Jared Sullinger was set to return, Delon Wright would wind his way back through the D-League, the schedule was to get easier, and everyone was beginning to round into form.

Instead, DeRozan has to take a seat for a couple of games. We have to worry (again) about the condition of Lowry as the season progresses. And the ups and downs of the season in general are taking their emotional toll. As it stands the Raptors are now 28-16, good for second place in the East and 1.5 games up on the Celtics. Just try to tell yourself that is OK, for now.

And hey, Patrick Patterson practiced today, so that means he may soon be back, thank god.

More, as it happens.