Posted Jan 2 2009 7:26PM
TORONTO -- Raptors forward Jermaine O'Neal missed Friday night's game against the Houston Rockets because of a sore right knee, the second consecutive game he has sat out.
O'Neal is averaging 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. A six-time All-Star, he missed three straight games in November because of injuries to his left knee and ankle. He sat out 42 games last season because of a left knee injury.
Raptors guard Jason Kapono, who missed Wednesday's 114-107 loss to Denver with a bruised thigh, returned for Toronto but was not in the starting lineup. Kapono, averaging 8.3 points and 2.2 rebounds, had started 11 consecutive games before being injured.
Forward Andrea Bargnani and guard Anthony Parker made their second straight starts for Toronto.
Houston guard Tracy McGrady, playing with a sore left knee, started for Houston but is expected to miss Saturday's game at Atlanta. The Rockets expect McGrady, averaging 15.5 points and 5.0 assists, to play every other game during a stretch of three back-to-backs over the next nine days.
Houston was already without forward Shane Battier, who sat out Wednesday's 85-81 win at Milwaukee and is expected to miss the next five games with a sore left foot.
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