Capping off a 36-point, six-assist outing by shattering Deron Williams’ ankles and drilling a floater to put the Raptors up for good in Game 5, Kyle Lowry wrote his name in gold on the CN Tower last night (…metaphorically). That Lowry should have been an all star this season is a truth so self-evident no elaborate justification is necessary.
But quickly:
Since the 2009-10 season, 18 different players (Lowry included) have scored 36 points in a playoff game. Of those 18, only three accomplished the feat in a season in which they weren’t named to the all-star team: Jason Richardson in 2009-10, Steph Curry last year and Kyle Lowry last night.
While Lowry’s snub may not be redressed with a starting spot next season (the way Curry’s was this year), he’s definitely had an all-star’s impact against Brooklyn. Last night alone, the Raptors were +15 with Lowry on the court and -13 without him, and for the series, Toronto has scored 10.6 more points per 100 possessions and allowed 10 less with Lowry in the game.
The Bulldog is also one of only seven players averaging at least 20 points, five assists and four rebounds per game this post-season. The other six are Paul George, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Steph Curry, James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Westbrook is the only other non-all star and that’s only because he missed almost the entire first half of the season.
Do with all that information what you will, or just watch Lowry’s first-half buzzer-beater: