The NBA Playoffs will resume after the temporary stoppage of play. The first semi-final series is between the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors. Toronto swept the Brooklyn Nets while the Celtics swept the Philadelphia 76ers. They have already been joined in the semi-finals by Miami Heat. The Milwaukee Bucks look to complete a 4-1 series win over the Orlando Magic.
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The Raptors are easily the best team in the bubble. They have lost only one game. However, they are not getting the recognition they deserve. The team has found a rhythm in the bubble and are the slight favorites to edge Boston out this series.
Kyle Lowry is their leader. However, the veteran point guard may hobble into the Celtics series. According to Tim Bontemps, Lowry practiced with an ankle injury today. The series with Boston begins tomorrow.
Nick Nurse says Kyle Lowry, who is dealing with a sprained ankle, went through practice today. Raptors and Celtics begin their series tomorrow afternoon.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) August 29, 2020
NBA Playoffs: Kyle Lowry to miss game one?
Whether or not Lowry will play is yet to be determined. Maybe they can let him rest for game one and bring him back later. However, if Lowry could make it through a full practice, he should be expected to be on the court. An injury to him will impact the Toronto Raptors, but the team has a lot of depth amongst its guards. Lowry is still the pace-setter of the team with the ball in his hand.
Whether or not Lowry chooses to protect himself is unknown. With the stuff we have seen Luka Doncic do on a bad ankle, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lowry find inspired form by playing through the pain. But the intensive schedule of the bubble may prove too much for the 14-year veteran in Lowry. The 2019 Champion is the most important piece in the Raptors offense, as his play unlocks the likes of Pascal Siakam to do well.
Lowry averaged a low 12.5 points in the series against Brooklyn. His shooting efficiency was under 40%. This could be due to him playing with a nagging injury. He left game four in under 10 minutes after making the injury worse.
We think Lowry could sit and not impact the series too much, as long as he is back for game two. However, it seems unlikely that he will be looking to sit on the bench.
