Per ESPN.com

MRI shows no damage, but Raptors playing it safe

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Associated Press

TORONTO -- Raptors star Vince Carter is expected to miss at least one or two weeks after re-injuring his left quadriceps tendon this past weekend.

Carter is listed as day to day, but he isn't expected back soon

''We're going to be conservative I think in our approach,'' Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said Monday. ''We'd like him back as soon as possible, but at the same time we don't want to be foolish and rush things.''

Carter collapsed in the first quarter of Toronto's 88-76 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

An MRI on his left knee Sunday showed no structural damage.

Carter's ''jumper's knee'' is an overuse injury, and cost him 22 games at the end of last season. He played his final game March 19, then had surgery the following week.

Grunwald doesn't think surgery is necessary this time.

''We don't think it's that serious right now, but we don't want to hurry things along and do anything that would jeopardize his long-term health,'' Grunwald said. ''With the chronic nature of injury, we don't want it to become chronic, so we're hopeful this may be a minor setback.

''The test results show that the tendon is better than any of the other MRIs that we've seen in the past. ... He's experiencing a lot of pain right now, so when that improves we'll go forward.''

The Raptors also lost forward Antonio Davis on Saturday night with a strained muscle in his left ribcage. He is expected to miss one-to-two weeks.

''We're optimistic Antonio is going to come back sooner than Vince is going to,'' Grunwald said. ''I think once we get all our guys out there playing we're going to be OK, so I'm not ready to write off the season just yet, but it certainly has been a rough start.''

The Raptors rallied in Carter's absence last season, winning 12 of 14 down the stretch to reach the playoffs. He vowed to return this season better than ever.

The 25-year-old Carter played the preseason and Toronto's first two games saying he felt no pain. He seemed to be back to his acrobatic self, throwing down a huge one-handed dunk Friday night in a loss at San Antonio.

The three-time All-Star was the team's leading scorer in the first two games, averaging 18 points and three rebounds in 36 minutes.

The Raptors, who entered Monday night's game against Chicago with 1-3 record, are awaiting a decision from the NBA on whether they'll be able to sign a player under the hardship rule.

The Raptors are also missing forward Lamond Murray (expected to miss four months with a ligament tear in his right foot) Hakeem Olajuwon (expected to retire this week because of a back injury), Nate Huffman (recovering from arthroscopic surgery) and Eric Montross (broken bone in his left foot.)