Raptors' Valanciunas active vs. Celtics after 2-game absence

A day after his backup, Bismack Biyombo, produced a historic performance while filling in for him, Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas will be active and in uniform Friday against the Boston Celtics.

Valanciunas has missed the last two games - both Raptors wins - due to a left-hand contusion suffered in the first quarter of Monday's loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Valanciunas fractured the same hand back in November and was forced to sit out 17 games, so expect Toronto to exercise caution in working him back into the rotation. If he plays Friday, it will be off the bench, as Biyombo will again draw the start.

In his fourth season, the 23-year-old Valanciunas is posting career highs in points (12.7), rebounds (nine), offensive rebounds (3.1), field-goal percentage (57.4), and PER (22.7).