Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry expected to return to lineup soon

Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry is expected to return back to the team’s lineup soon, according to head coach Nick Nurse

For the last couple of weeks, the Toronto Raptors have been a .500 team. In their last eight games, the team is 4-4. A big reason why, amongst other things, is the fact that Kyle Lowry has been out of the lineup – with the exception of one game, against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Even though Lowry hasn’t been the scoring machine that we’re used to him being, he’s by far the team’s leading assist man and that’s something they’ve missed with him out. He gets the offense going and is one of the team’s biggest leaders.

Him not being in the lineup goes beyond just the box score. The good news is that the expectation is that he will return soon, according to head coach Nick Nurse.

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"[via ESPN]“Any of our guys, we want them back as soon as possible … I think we’re positive and hopeful that it’s going in the right direction, and we’ll see him back soon.”Nurse later added that Lowry should return soon.“We’re coming to the end of it,” Nurse said."

With Lowry in the lineup this season, the Raptors were averaging nearly 26 assists per contest – good enough for 8th in the NBA. During the last eight games, though, Toronto is ranked dead-last in the league in assists and is only averaging 18.1 per contest.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand why this team has taken a bit of a step back over the last two weeks. While the loss of Lowry likely isn’t the entire issue with this team right now, it certainly doesn’t help that their leading assist man is out and can’t set up the offense.

The combination of Lowry and Kawhi Leonard had catapulted the Raptors to an excellent start to the season. Up until a few days ago, the Raptors have been sitting atop the Eastern Conference for the majority of the season.

Despite their up and down play as of late, the Raptors are still only 0.5 games back of the conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks, who have been a surprise of their own this season.

The Toronto Raptors desperately could use a healthy Kyle Lowry sooner rather than later.