Raptors guard Kyle Lowry set to play Monday night vs. Bucks
The Toronto Raptors are back home for Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks Monday night, but point guard Kyle Lowry is banged up.
The first-round series between the Toronto Raptors and the Milwaukee Bucks looks set to go a full seven games, with Game 5 coming from Air Canada Centre in Toronto Monday night. The teams have alternated wins thus far, so the fifth game would be Milwaukee’s turn in theory.
Raptor’s point guard Kyle Lowry has notably struggled at times during his playoff career, and that didn’t change in Game 1 against the Bucks (2-for-11 from the floor; four points).
He has been a little better since, averaging 20 points and 4.5 assists per game in Toronto’s two wins in the series most notably, but Lowry’s status for Game 5 was in doubt due to a back issue.
Lowry had back stiffness and went home early. Expected to play. Did not take part in shoot-around.
— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) April 24, 2017
Kyle Lowry is feeling much better. Game-time call, but much improved from this morning.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) April 24, 2017
Lowry missed 21 games during the regular season right after the All-Star break after undergoing wrist surgery, but he returned for the final four games to get back in the swing of things before the playoffs. He’s a game-time call Monday night, with tip-off coming at 7 p.m. ET, and there’s good news.
According to the lineup sheet, Kyle Lowry will play.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) April 24, 2017
Corey Joseph may be in line for more playing time as Lowry’s backup, but he was reportedly dealing with an illness on Monday morning. Delon Wright or Fred VanVleet could be in line for more minutes too. If Joseph is at all limited, the Raptors could be relying on their No. 3 and No. 4 point guards far more than they want to.
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The Bucks seem to have a very winnable road game ahead of them, even with Lowry in uniform. The Raptors need their starting backcourt to be fully operational, and they won’t have it for perhaps the most important game of their season.