National Basketball Association

Raptors' Gray has heart rate procedure

Published Jan. 9, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Raptors center Aaron Gray underwent a procedure Monday aimed at preventing episodes of a rapid heart rate that have kept the four-year veteran out of action so far this season. He's expected to return in two weeks.

The procedure, known as an ablation, was performed at a Toronto hospital.

Gray, who signed a free-agent deal with the Raptors on Dec. 11, played in both of Toronto's preseason games before being sidelined by a rapid heart rate.

He was initially cleared to return for Toronto's Dec. 28 home opener against Indiana, but the team decided to get him through a full practice before he returned to game action.

A second-round pick by Chicago in 2007, Gray has also played for the New Orleans Hornets. The seven-footer averaged 3.1 points and 4.2 rebounds last season.

Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson of the Toronto Maple Leafs underwent a similar procedure in 2009.