Lowry returns, Raptors beat Pistons 105-102

Kyle Lowry didn’t look rusty in his return for the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.

After missing 18 games with a wrist injury, Lowry played 42 minutes and had 27 points and 10 assists to help the Raptors overcome a 20-point first-half deficit in a 105-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

“I wouldn’t have played if I had any fear. If I’m going to come back, I’m going to go out there and play basketball with no limitations,” Lowry said. “This is what I love to do, and I wanted to go out there and help our guys win a game.”

Toronto moved a half-game ahead of Washington for third place in the East.

“We came back and played well in the fourth quarter, but we didn’t start the game the right way,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. “I liked the way we finished, but we can’t play that way and expect to go anywhere.”

Jonas Valanciunas had 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter for Toronto, and Cory Joseph added 15, but it was Lowry who made the difference.

“He’s the team,” DeMar DeRozan said. “He runs us, and he showed it tonight. There’s no words I can put into context that will explain what it means to get him back.”

Ish Smith and Tobias Harris had 16 points each for Detroit. The Pistons remained 11th in the conference, three games behind Miami, Chicago and Indiana with four games to play.