Raptors' Jonas Valanciunas to sit rest of Eastern Conference semifinals

MIAMI – Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas will miss the rest of the Eastern Conference semifinals series with a sprained right ankle, the team announced Sunday.

"We can't change schematically or philosophically what we do, so that's not going to change," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "It doesn't matter who starts. That person is going to have to come in and fill the role of screening, rebounding, defending his position and adding to the team."

Valanciunas sprained his ankle early in the third quarter, and the team said he was day-to-day after Saturday's 95-91 victory over the Miami Heat.

The series is now defined by injuries. Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside is day-to-day with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. As important as Whiteside is to Miami's success, Valanciunas is equally as important, especially in the playoffs. Toronto can still win the series, but its chances took a hit with this news.

Backup Toronto center Bismack Biyombo likely will move into the starting lineup, and Biyombo was effective as a starter when Valanciunas was out earlier this season. In 22 games as a starter, Biyombo, averaged 7.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and two blocks and shot 54.8% from the field. Toronto lost scoring punch with Biyombo in the starting lineup, but it allowed 99.5 points per 100 possessions when he started.

But it won't fall all Biyombo. Patrick Patterson, Luis Scola and Jason Thompson could get time share time at center, and Casey could active 7-feet-0 Lucas Nogueira, who hasn't played in the postseason.

With guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan struggling offensively at times during the postseason, especially through the first two games of the Heat series, Valanciunas has been Toronto's most consistent scorer. In 10 playoff games this season, Valancuinas averaged 15 points, 12.1 and 1.4 blocks and shot 55% from the field. In two-plus games against the Heat, he averaged 18.3 points and 12.7 rebounds and shot 64.9% from the field.

"It's a big loss for us obviously since he was having a great series and a great playoffs," Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri said. "It's a big, big blow for us and a big blow for JV. You feel for the kid. I just met with him. It's tough on him, it's tough on his teammates, but this is life in the NBA and we just have to carry on."