LOWRY HAS SURGERY ON THUMB

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry underwent a procedure to repair a tendon in his left thumb, but he still plans on being available for the United States for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, ESPN reported Thursday. Lowry, pictured, is not expected to miss USA Basketball’s mini-camp Aug. 5-9 in Las Vegas. He last played for Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and is one of 20 players invited to the mini-camp for the current team. Lowry, 33, averaged 14.2 points and 8.7 assists for the Raptors in the 2018-19 season and averaged 15.0 points with 6.6 assists in 24 games during the playoffs on the way to an NBA title. Lowry, who made his fifth all-star appearance this season, sustained the injury during the second round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers. The 32-team FIBA World Cup is scheduled for Aug. 31 to Sept. 15 in China.