Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers combined for 78 points when the teams met last Saturday in Cleveland.

Each has suffered an injury since, and in each case participation in Friday's game between the teams at the Air Canada Centre was a game-time decision.

A couple of other Raptors were expected to play Friday after the morning shoot around - point guard T.J. Ford and forward Andrea Bargnani.

James merely watched his teammates take part in the shoot around on Friday morning after he suffered a sprained left index finger in the first half of Cleveland's loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

Bosh did not practice Thursday with the Raptors and instead was undergoing diagnostic tests for a strained right groin, an injury that developed in Tuesday's practice and forced him to leave Wednesday's victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the first quarter.

Cavaliers' forward LeBron James has a sprained left index finger and is day to day, the team said Thursday.

James underwent an MRI at the Cleveland Clinic in Toronto, which confirmed the sprain. The team said he will be a game-time decision for Friday night's game in Toronto against the Raptors.

LeBron James was grounded at The Palace after lifting his game to rarified air in his previous visit.

James sprained his left index finger in the second quarter Wednesday night, and did not return, and the Pistons went on to beat the Cavaliers 109-74 Wednesday night.

Jason Kidd has voiced some concern with the prospects of the Nets and also has a budding relationship with LeBron James, begging the question of whether or not the two could eventually team up.

"I always keep in touch with LeBron," said Kidd, who became friends with James while they played for USA Basketball last summer in Las Vegas. "I think the sky's the limit for him. We hung out a lot this summer in Vegas, and I appreciate the work ethic, that he doesn't just rely on his talent and that he wants to get as much information as possible. Me being on another team, I don't mind cheering for somebody because I want him to be the best that he can be"

Kidd admits that he and James daydream about contending for championships together in Cleveland. "There's a little talk," Kidd said. "But I told him, 'What-ifs can get you in trouble. You go out there and do your thing, and if I don't get to play with you until this summer [at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing], then that's the way it's meant to be. But the big thing is for you to go out there and lead your team.' And that's what he's doing."

Kidd told SI.com Tuesday that he has no plans to publicly force a trade -- an attempt that failed three years ago. So long as he keeps playing at a high level, Kidd is convinced he'll wind up playing for a contender, whether in New Jersey or elsewhere.

"In this business; it always works out somehow, some way," he said. "And if you start to manage stuff, it tends to go the opposite way and it doesn't help you. I've been there, done that."

"So you just play it out. This is my job. That's what you have to do. You learn from what you've gone through early on in your career, and you tend not to make that same kind of mistake."

Over the past few weeks, several NBA general managers have told ESPN.com that agent Dan Fegan has been searching out potential sign-and-trade deals for disgruntled restricted free agent Anderson Varejao, according to ESPN writer Chad Ford.

In recent days, there have been indications that the Cavs are open to the possibility of a sign-and-trade.

Two GMs told ESPN.com they believe Varejao would agree to a five-year, $45-million deal in a sign-and-trade, if such an offer were made.

"If that's the price, or close to it, I think Danny [Ferry] will get some offers that make sense for the Cavs," one GM said. "I'm not sure he'll get equal value, but right now he has nothing and I don't see it changing."

If Varejao leaves, it will be a bitter ending for both parties. But at this point, that might be the most workable option.

"I'm willing to go and play in Europe if that's what it takes," Varejao said. "I know it's a risk and I'll be a restricted free agent next year, but at least I'd be happy. I don't think I'll be happy in Cleveland knowing that I was [almost] the lowest-paid player there for three years and am still paid much less than players on the team that I outperform. Life's too short to be unhappy."

LeBron James handed the Celtics' Big 3 loss No. 2.

Cleveland's superstar scored 38 points, hitting a crucial 3-pointer and all six free throws in overtime as the Cavaliers won their fourth straight, 109-104 over Boston and its heralded trio.

James, playing the best ball of his career, scored 11 points in OT as the defending Eastern Conference champions dropped the Celtics to 11-2 with one of their best all-around performances of the early season.

Steve Francis almost joined the Clippers in the off-season. Instead, he signed a two-year deal with Houston, where he was a three-time All-Star before being traded to the Orlando Magic along with Cuttino Mobley in 2004.

"I had conversations with the Clippers, the coach; we had some deep conversations up until the last couple of days when I made a decision to come to Houston," Francis said Monday before the Rockets' 88-71 victory over the Clippers at Staples Center.

"I made an easier decision I thought was best for my family, my daughter, my wife. We have a home in Houston. We've been living there for seven, eight years."

Mobley, Francis' longtime friend, was a recruiter in the Clippers' attempt to land him.

Some in the Clippers' organization doubted they ever had a true shot at signing Francis, believing he wanted to play for a team with legitimate title aspirations and a dominant one-two punch in Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.

At the beginning of the season, he found himself questioning it. He did not play in 11 of the team's first 13 games and was buried deep on the depth chart.

"Of course, by me not playing the first 11, 12 games, I not only possibly thought of if I should've [come] here but Miami, or Dallas, or Cleveland," Francis said.

Anderson Varejao's frustration with his contract status has finally come to a head.

Saying he is waiting for Cleveland General Manager Danny Ferry to "show me that he values my contribution to the team," Varejao said in an exclusive phone interview with ESPN.com this weekend from his home in Vitoria. "I just want to be treated fairly, and I don't think Danny's done that."

Varejao expected to be helping the Cavs defend their East crown by now.

"I wanted to come back," he said. "I love the fans, and I really love my teammates. But there are others there that have made it very difficult. It's gotten to the point that I don't want to play there anymore. I'm just hoping for a sign-and-trade at this point."

Ferry isn't ready to give up on bringing Varejao back.

"We fully understand that negotiations can be emotional," Ferry told ESPN.com. "As for Anderson's potential to remain a Cavalier and put this behind us, we value his presence in this organization on and off the court, and that has not changed."

Cavaliers' forward Donyell Marshall completed a period of additional examination and evaluation for his sprained right wrist on Tuesday.  The initial treatment of rest and immobilization for 7-10 days was step one and has been completed.

After additional opinions and evaluations were gained, step two started Tuesday with a cortisone shot to the impacted area of his wrist. A period of further immobilization, and then rehab to promote healing and resolution of his symptoms will now commence. It is estimated the complete treatment and rehab will take 6-8 weeks starting immediately.

The Cavaliers are still expected to pursue Mike Bibby, though the Knicks supposedly struck out on an even Stephon Marbury - Mike Bibby swap among several others with Marbury owed about $40 million through the end of next season.