TORONTO -- Vince Carter's injured left knee is no worse than it was in November, and the All-Star forward has returned to the court for Saturday's home game against the Timberwolves.
Carter has been diagnosed as having an inflamed quadriceps tendon, an injury commonly known as jumper's knee.
Carter, fourth in the league in scoring with 27.7 points a game,
played less than four minutes Tuesday night, and missed Toronto's
game against Atlanta on Wednesday night. It's still unclear whether he'll be able to play in the All-Star game.
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The leading All-Star
vote-getter for the second straight year, Carter underwent an MRI on
Wednesday that showed no further damage.
"This injury will not completely heal while he continues to play," team physician Dr. Douglas Richards said. "But, managed carefully throughout the season with strengthening and conditioning, Vince should be able to continue to function at a
high level without doing damage to his knee."
Carter aggravated the injury, commonly known as jumper's knee,
on Jan. 24 in Miami and he is day to day. He has missed six games
this season and won't participate in the All-Star dunk contest
because of the injury. The All-Star Game is Feb. 11 in Washington,
D.C.
"In November, Vince sustained an acute microinjury, in which
the junction of the tendon and kneecap was strained," Richards
said. "After a period of healing and active rehabilitation, he was
able to return to play without difficulty. However, the combination
of accumulated activity and a recent contusion has temporarily
aggravated the condition."
Injuries have already forced Miami center Alonzo Mourning
(kidney ailment) and Orlando forward Grant Hill (foot injury) to
miss the All-Star game. Both players are out for the season.
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