Fear all of the deers.
The Toronto Raptors will be without Kyle Lowry for the tenth game in 11 outings after the team confirmed he will continue to rest his ailing back as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks.
This particular game marks a potentially pivotal absence, as the Bucks can clinch the regular season tie-breaker with a win having already won the first two games between the two teams. Milwaukee leads Toronto by a half-game for first place in the Eastern Conference heading into tonight’s action.
Lowry sustained a hard fall on a drive to the basket in a Dec. 12 win over the Golden State Warriors and has been absent for all but a Dec. 22 clash against his hometown Philadelphia 76ers. The Raptors are 6-4 in his absence, which includes a Dec. 1 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers which he also missed due to a sore back.
On Dec. 29, Lowry visited the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York to receive pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory injections for his lower back soreness. He was given no timetable to return at the time, but was listed as doubtful for the game against the San Antonio Spurs and made every effort to play before finally being ruled out.
The 32-year-old has averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists through 30 games this season.
Centre Jonas Valanciunas remains out as he recovers from a dislocated left thumb and is not expected to return for at least another three weeks.
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