Raptors miss Lowry in loss

There would be no thrilling fourth-quarter comeback for the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

Playing their fourth game without all-star guard Kyle Lowry, the Raptors dropped a 105-96 decision to Eastern Conference rival Washington Wizards to end a four-game winning streak.

And in a sombre post-game dressing room, DeMar DeRozan lamented the absence of his back-court teammate, who was recovering from Tuesday’s wrist surgery.

“It’s going to be a challenge for us, playing with (Lowry) throughout the whole year and now at the end of the year having new guys coming in and not having him,” said DeRozan, who lingered long at his locker, head down, scrolling through his phone. “It’s going to be a challenge but we’ve got to figure it out.”

DeRozan had 24 points to top the Raptors (36-25), while Serge Ibaka had 22 points and 12 rebounds. Norm Powell finished with 17 points, Cory Joseph — starting for Lowry — had 11 points but just one assist, and Jonas Valanciunas grabbed 11 boards to go with seven points.

The Raptors had rallied from double-digit deficits in all four games of their winning streak. But mustering just 11 assists on the night — they had just three through the first three quarters — it was clear how sorely the team missed Lowry.

“That can’t happen,” coach Dwane Casey said of the low assists. “The ball’s got to move and get in a rhythm and we were a little out of sync and I felt that carried over to the defensive end.

“Tonight was a stinker all the way around. Not just the defence, the defence started it and then it carried over to the offensive end. I thought not making baskets sapped our defensive energy and just took the wind out of us.”

Bojan Bogdanovic led Washington (36-23) with 27 points.