Cam Johnson probable for Raptors game after leaving Portland loss

Cam Johnson is listed as probable for the Nuggets' game against Toronto tonight, two days after he left Monday's loss to Portland grabbing the back of his leg. Denver Sports' Jake Shapiro reported Tuesday evening that Johnson appeared to have avoided a serious injury, and the team's report lists him with lower-body injury management, according to On SI's Logan Struck.

It was a scare Denver could not easily absorb. Johnson had just come back: he sprained his right ankle in the second quarter of the season opener at Oklahoma City, missed the next three games, and returned Friday against his former team in Phoenix with 12 points and nine rebounds in a 127-120 win.

What happened Monday

In the final minutes against Portland, Johnson drove and kicked the ball out to Jamal Murray for a 3-pointer, then pulled up holding the back of his leg, Denver Sports' Joey Freeburg wrote. He could not get back on defense, and Toumani Camara's 3 with 1:09 left all but finished a 118-110 Blazers win. Johnson had seven points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 34 minutes, by ESPN's box score.

Coach David Adelman had nothing to offer afterward. "I have no idea," he said when asked about Johnson.

The rest of the report

• Alpha Diallo (right wrist sprain) is probable. He was hurt in the opener, missed four games and came back Monday for six minutes.
• Spencer Jones is out with a hamstring injury from training camp. ESPN's injury listing estimates his return around Nov. 11.
• Julian Strawther is out with the left knee sprain he suffered in a preseason game at the Clippers. The Nuggets said in October he would be reevaluated in six weeks, ESPN reported; its listing now estimates Nov. 29.

With Johnson out, the forward minutes went to Trevon Brazile, a rookie second-round pick from Arkansas, who started at New Orleans and scored 11 with eight rebounds, and to Marvin Bagley III. Forward health was the story of last season too: Johnson missed 28 games and Aaron Gordon 46, Denver Sports noted.

Toronto (4-3) arrives without Kawhi Leonard (knee) and Nate Bittle (foot), with Jakob Poeltl (shoulder) listed day-to-day. Tip is 9 p.m. ET at Ball Arena. Prices are on the game page, and the schedule is on the team page.