Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas will not play Sunday vs. Bulls

Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry. (Chris Young/CP)

The Raptors will have to bounce back without two of their key contributors once again.

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (back) and centre Jonas Valanciunas (finger) will once again not play when the team takes on the Chicago Bulls Sunday afternoon.

Lowry will sit for the seventh time in the last eight games with lower-back soreness. The 32-year-old has made 30 appearances so far this season, averaging 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists.

With Lowry out, expect Fred VanVleet to get the start for the Raptors. Toronto is 10-2 when VanVleet starts a game this season, and the 24-year-old has scored 10 points or more in his last seven games.

Valanciunas underwent surgery on his dislocated right thumb on Dec. 13 and was expected to miss at least four weeks from that point.

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