Magic expect bounce-back from Lowry
Raptors guard had uncharacteristic shooting struggles
TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors aren’t worried about point guard Kyle Lowry’s scoreless night in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic. Neither is Lowry. The veteran point guard went 0-for-7 from the floor and 0-for-2 from the freethrow line as he failed to score at least one point in a playoff game for the first time in his Raptors career.
But he still recorded eight assists and seven rebounds, and had a +/- rating of +11. Only Magic swingman Terrence Ross finished with a higher rating (+13) for the game.
Lowry shrugged off the notion that his Game 1 shooting struggles would bother him mentally or affect his approach.
“I’m a guy that plays basketball the right away. Me not scoring any points doesn’t mean I didn’t affect the game, so that’s why the mental game doesn’t matter,” he told reporters on Monday. “For me, I play the game the right way. I missed some shots and we lost, so it looks worse.”
Magic coach Steve Clifford also saw through what he called a misperception about Lowry’s performance. Clifford insisted during Sunday’s media session that Lowry had plenty of impact on Game 1.
Clifford reiterated that stance when talking to reporters on Monday, and predicted Lowry’s shooting woes likely won’t be repeated.
“He took seven shots and didn’t make them. He’ll make them,” Clifford said. “Listen, he’s one of the great competitors in our league. He played really well. He didn’t make any shots, but when you have the time to just sit and watch [film], he played a very, very good game. His impact on the game was terrific for them.”
Low-scoring stretches aren’t unprecedented for Lowry, who typically has bounced back quickly. In a four-game span in early December, he had games of 5, 7, 3 and 0 points.
The scoreless game came in a 104-99 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, but Lowry responded two nights later with a 21-point effort during a 123-99 road win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
In the Raptors’ firstround series against the Bulls in 2017, Lowry posted four points in the opener, then scored 22 the next game.
In 51 playoff contests with Toronto, Lowry is averaging 17.2 points a game, shooting 41.4 percent from the field overall and 33.8 percent on 3-point attempts. Last season he averaged nearly three 3-pointers per game in the playoffs.
While he had eight assists in Game 1, the Magic were able to keep Lowry from getting easy shots in the paint. Six of his seven shot attempts were 3-pointers.
Lowry, who averages nearly 14 points a game this season, wants to look for more scoring opportunities in Game 2.
“I’ve just got to make sure I’m a little more aggressive,” he said. “I think in the situation we’re in, the way they’re guarding me I can look to score a lot more, [after] watching the film. You just go out there and take what the game gives you.
“That’s the thing about the playoffs, there’s always an adjustment period. It’s always an adjustment game after game.”
Raptors swingman Danny Green is confident Lowry will put up some points in Game 2. Green, who made seven 3-pointers against the Magic earlier this season, said getting Lowry involved early will be a key.
“Defenses are adjusting to him not being as aggressive,” Green said. “If we get him aggressive early, I think it will get him in a rhythm a lot sooner.”