Casey: Valanciunas unlikely to play Game 1 or 2

The Toronto Raptors are going into their first-ever Eastern Conference final without one of the biggest contributors to getting them there.

Center Jonas Valanciunas is still day to day with the right ankle sprain that kept him out of the final three-and-a-half games of the East semis versus the Miami Heat. Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said Monday that Valanciunas is unlikely to suit up for the first two games against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"He's a little ways away from contributing in a playoff game," Casey said

Valanciunas' status beyond that is unclear - he hasn't yet started basketball activities - but Casey wouldn't rule out a return at some point in the series.

The timing of the injury couldn't have been worse for Valanciunas or his team. The fourth-year big man was playing the best ball of his career through 10 playoff games, averaging 15 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks, posting a team-best 27.7 PER and anchoring the Raptors' stout interior defense.