Toronto Raptors all-star forward Chris Bosh missed practice in Madrid yesterday and will likely sit out tomorrow's exhibition game against Real Madrid because of unspecified soreness and a slight swelling on his left knee.
He apparently tweaked it during a practice in Treviso, Italy, last week. He played both of the Raptors' exhibition games in Rome on the weekend, though he was wearing a knee brace. Last December, Bosh missed 12 games because of problems with his right knee.
Bosh said sitting out was more of a precaution, but not what he was looking for as he tries to get into game shape. He was limited to drills and conditioning most of the summer while getting over a plantar fasciitis problem in his left foot.
"I can play, but it's the preseason," Bosh said. "I'm just trying to do the right things to take care of it."
Bosh said that his left foot has been trouble-free so far. "It's been great, I'm really surprised. It's come along pretty good," he said.
Bosh said he decided not to practise yesterday after consulting with the team's medical staff.
"I've had instances in the past where I've tried to come back early and have got hurt," he said. "What's the sense of getting hurt in a preseason game? Nothing against the preseason opponents, but it's still training camp. It's not going to plague me at all. It's a knee issue, I've seen it before and I'll stay on top of it."
