ASSOCIATED PRESS - The Toronto Raptors have yet to decide how they will replace injured leading scorer DeMar DeRozan in their lineup.

His absence may not make too much of a difference in his first game out since they are facing the woeful Los Angeles Lakers.

The Raptors have won three times in 17 road games in this series but figure to be favored Sunday night as they try to hand the Western Conference's worst team a fifth straight defeat.

DeRozan, averaging 19.4 points, left in the third quarter of Friday's 106-102 home loss to Dallas. One day later, the team learned that he will be out an indefinite period with a torn tendon in his left groin.

Coach Dwane Casey did not say how he will adjust his lineup, and the Raptors (13-3) know they need others to help fill the void left by DeRozan.

"The thing about our team is that we have guys that can step up and they're definitely going to have to," forward Amir Johnson said.

Johnson and DeRozan are both natives of the Los Angeles area who no doubt would be relishing this trip home to showcase why Toronto (13-3) is the East's best team. Only one will be on the court.

"I feel sorry for the young man 'cause he's a helluva basketball player," Lakers coach Byron Scott said. "I know he's an L.A. kid as well."

Casey may have to give more playing time to reserve forward James Johnson, averaging 6.3 points and 18.3 minutes.

"James is going to have a tough task because he's learning the 3 and the 4 offensively so he's in a tough position in a sense because now we're going to need that extra body at the 3 with DeMar out," Casey said.

Scott doesn't see the Raptors as being too weakened. DeRozan is one of five players averaging at least 10 points for a club scoring an East-leading 107.6 points.

"They're still very athletic, very young," Scott said. "They get after you pretty good. Terrence Ross is a good player, so it'll probably put a little bit more on his plate and the same thing with Kyle Lowry and those guys."

The coach was angry after Friday's 120-119 home defeat to Minnesota. Los Angeles (3-13) yielded 39 third-quarter points, and is allowing league worsts of 29.8 points in that period and 111.4 overall.

"It's really been our third quarters that's been killing us," Scott said. "So obviously we're not coming out of the locker room ready to play to start the third quarter and we gotta change that."

The offense continues to revolve around Kobe Bryant, who easily leads the league by averaging 23.1 shots for the NBA's highest scoring average - 26.4.

Bryant's memorable career-best, 81-point performance came on a Sunday night at home against Toronto in a 122-104 win Jan. 22, 2006. He made 28 of 46 shots that night but is a far less efficient player now in the twilight of his career.

Bryant is shooting a career-worst 38.8 percent. Ironically, one of the few other players in the top 50 in scoring below 40 percent is DeRozan (39.4).

The Lakers superstar's 27.6 scoring average against the Raptors is his best against any East foe.