Lowry’s wrist twists Raptors

ALL-STAR GUARD TO MISS REMAINDER OF REGULAR SEASON BECAUSE OF INJURY

discomfort one day and the next day you can feel good and then the next day you feel discomfort again, or there’s swelling.’’

Lowry injured the wrist against the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 15, but played in the NBA all-star game four days later in New Orleans and participated in the three-point shooting contest. He said he hadn’t thought the injury was serious. He received treatment from the Pelicans’ staff in New Orleans, and had the wrist bandaged with ice when he wasn’t on the floor.

Raptors fans took to social media Monday to voice their disappointment about his all-star appearance. Lowry is second on the team with his average of 22.8 points and leads the Raptors with 6.9 assists per game. Toronto has averaged 113.2 points with Lowry on the floor this season compared to 105.1 without him. Defensively, they’ve allowed 105.1 points with Lowry versus 108.6 without him.

Cory Joseph and Delon Wright fared well in Lowry’s absence in Sunday’s 102-96 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Joseph had 14 points and six assists, while Wright added 11 points.

Ujiri said there are no plans to sign another point guard.

“We have to give the point guards we have the experience to grow, to build with this team, and to be ready for what’s coming,” Ujiri said. “We’re going to discuss some more, but off the top of my head now I would say no, I think Cory and Delon and Fred (VanVleet) have been very capable. We believe in them, and I think we’ll go from there.”

Three-time all-star DeMar DeRozan also stepped up in Lowry’s absence. In the past two games, he’s scored 76 points combined, shot 54.5 per cent from the field and made 27 of 28 from the free-throw line.

The Raptors have also looked better after acquiring Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker in trades. If Lowry doesn’t return in the regular season, however, Ibaka and Tucker will head into the playoffs having never played or even practised with Lowry.

“The big picture was to have them have a chance to play with Kyle and with our whole team,” Ujiri said, “but that has been postponed now — but hey, we’re patient and we’ll continue to wait and Kyle will get better, and you come back strong.”