Amir Johnson not traveling with Raptors for Wednesday's game

The Toronto Raptors will have their defense tested once again on Wednesday against the Boston Celtics, as they'll be missing their best interior defender.

Amir Johnson will miss his third consecutive game due to a sore left ankle, the team revealed following Tuesday's game. That has to worry the Raptors, who are lucky to find themselves 3-1 after turning in two shaky defensive performances in a row.

In Johnson, the Raptors have a strong screener and pick-and-roll player, but more importantly, their best pick-and-roll defender and rim protector. In the 55 minutes he's played this year, the team has allowed 102.6 points per 100 possessions, a number that's climbed to 104.7 without him. That's a trend that existed last season, too, with the team performing 2.4 points per 100 possessions worse without Johnson on the floor overall.

With Johnson sidelined, Patrick Patterson saw 36 minutes Tuesday, turning in his first good performance of the young season. With Jonas Valanciunas also limited after taking a shot to the nose, it also meant additional run for James Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough, Chuck Hayes and Greg Stiemsma.

That sound you hear is Jared Sullinger licking his chops.