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Raptors' Marc Gasol planning to return vs. Thunder

The Toronto Raptors’ recent trend of getting familiar faces back in the mix seems likely to continue.

Center Marc Gasol, who has been out of the lineup since Dec. 18, told reporters Tuesday he plans to play against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday (8 ET, League Pass).

The Raptors are 25-14 and recently got forwards Norman Powell and Pascal Siakam back in the mix. That duo played in Toronto’s last game, a 105-104 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 12. Siakam had 15 points on 6-for-17 shooting along with five rebounds and four assists, while Powell had 20 points (8-14 FG), three rebounds and four assists.

Gasol hasn’t played since suffering a hamstring injury in a win against Detroit. The 34-year-old has started all 27 games he’s played in, averaging 6.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 3.4 apg this season. Powell was also out of the lineup starting Dec. 18, missing time because of a left shoulder injury. Siakam was also out since Dec. 18 after suffering a stretched groin.

Roughly two weeks before Gasol, Siakam and Powell left the lineup, the Raptors had just gotten point guard Kyle Lowry back in the mix. He missed 11 games from Nov. 10 to Dec. 1 because of a fractured left thumb. Toronto went 9-2 without Lowry, was 6-5 in the 11 games Gasol, Siakam and Powell missed and 0-1 in the first game Siakam and Powell played.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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