Raptors’ all-star ruled out

PHILADELPHIA — Fred VanVleet says his body is “tapped out.”

The Toronto Raptors’ all-star guard, who suffered a strained left hip flexor, was ruled out of Monday’s door-die Game 5 of their opening-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. A score was not available by press time.

The 28-year-old, who’s also been battling a bruised knee the past few months, limped off the court in the second quarter of Saturday’s Game 4, ripping his jersey in frustration.

“I knew I wasn’t coming back,” he said of his reaction. “To be in this situation with this team, being hobbled already … you’re just trying to go until you can’t run no more. More so just being in the moment, wanting to be out there with the guys fighting, trying to get the win.”

The Raptors trailed the Sixers 3-1 in the best-of-seven opening-round playoff series and needed a win Monday to stave off elimination.

VanVleet said the hip has been bothering him on and off all season, but he felt a pop in the first quarter on Saturday. He finished out the quarter, and put some heat on his hip on the bench.

“Once I checked back in, it was all locked up,” he said at Monday’s shootaround. “Couldn’t really move, can’t really lift my leg or anything like that.”

VanVleet averaged 20.3 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game this season and was named an AllStar for the first time, but his troublesome knee has kept him from 13 games since late-January.

If the series goes to a Game 6 on Thursday in Toronto, VanVleet said he’s not sure if he’d be ready.

“Hopefully we can extend this thing and I would feel great about maybe playing in the next round,” he said.