Just when you thought a loss couldn't get any uglier comes news that Jose Calderon's hip injury now appears the sort that will keep him out of the lineup for the long term.
How long won't be known until today. Calderon aggravated the injury last night and underwent diagnostic testing after the game to get a better gauge of the severity.
The fifth-year point guard went through the club's shootaround yesterday without problems and while he didn't take his regular spot in the starting lineup, did play in last night's game.
Calderon came in for Jarrett Jack with three minutes left in the first quarter and then left with 71/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter. He did not play any more and to hear head coach Jay Triano tell it, it might be a while before he plays again.
Triano was asked if he thought it would be a long-term injury. " I don't know because I haven't talked to anyone yet, but I would speculate yes," Triano said.
In the previous two games when Calderon was inactive because of the sore hip, the Raptors went with Jack starting and Marcus Banks as his backup. But Banks was inactive last night, which forced Triano to go with Marco Belinelli.
If Calderon's absence is long term, Triano will have to decide between Belinelli and Banks to back up Jack at the point.
Last season Calderon missed 14 games because of hamstring problems.
Andrea Bargnani, who missed the club's game in Milwaukee on Wednesday, showed no sign of being hampered by the ankle injury that had kept him out. He played just under 36 minutes and had a team-high 17 points.
MIKE.GANTER@SUNMEDIA.CA
