McGrady and Christie Battling Ankle Injuries

Tracy McGrady and Doug Christie of the Toronto Raptors have ankle injuries and could miss today’s Game 3 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the New York Knicks at Toronto.

The Raptors trail the Knicks, 2-0, in the best-of-five series.

McGrady mildly sprained his left ankle during Friday night’s practice. Both he and Christie, who has been hampered because of a bruised right ankle, did not participate in Saturday’s practice.

Coach Butch Carter said it will be a game-time decision on whether either of the two can play.

McGrady, second on the team in scoring at 19 points a game, said he will play through the injury.

The Raptors also appear to have internal problems, as reflected in such front-page headlines as The Toronto Sun’s: “Raptors trash ‘n’ burn; Coach, players bad-mouth each other on brink of playoff ouster.”

It is a result of the players’ reaction to Carter’s suggestions that the Raptors lack leadership and are more concerned over their contract status than the playoffs.

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Minnesota’s Joe Smith, struggling because of an injured knee, practiced and says he will be in the lineup today for the Timberwolves’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Minneapolis.