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Raptors to host Mavericks without Ford

Dec 12, 2007 - 3:06 PM Dallas (14-8) at Toronto (12-10) 7:00 pm EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Raptors have been shorthanded nearly all season. Wednesday will be no different.

The Raptors will be without guard T.J. Ford and forward Jason Kapono when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

Ford was taken off the court on a stretcher in the fourth quarter Tuesday night after taking a hard hit from Atlanta Hawks rookie Al Horford. Ford slammed his head against the floor and spent the night in the hospital for observation.

Ford and Kapono, who sprained his wrist on Tuesday, join Jorge Garbajosa on the sideline. Toronto did get Chris Bosh back on Sunday, and Andrea Bargnani played 12 minutes Tuesday in his first action since December 1.

Despite the myriad of injuries, the Raptors have won two games in a row, including Tuesday's 100-88 victory over the Hawks.

Ford scored 26 points and Bosh grabbed 13 rebounds for Toronto, which has won six of its last nine contests.

The Mavericks have won two in a row on the strength of stars Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard, who have combined for 121 points over the past two games.

Nowitzki scored 36 points in a 99-89 triumph over the New York Knicks on Monday, two days after Howard poured in a career-high 47 in a 125-117 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Dallas has won its last eight games against Toronto.