Toronto Raptors: Will Kyle Lowry be back for Game 3?

Kyle Lowry says he will be ready for Game 3, but the Toronto Raptors and their fans anxiously await official confirmation.

The Toronto Raptors already face a tall order in their attempts to overcome the Cleveland Cavaliers in this best-of-seven series. The question is, has that task just become even more difficult?

Already dealing with a 14-point deficit at halftime, the Raptors suffered a further blow less than a minute into the third quarter on Wednesday night. After a collision with teammate Norman Powell, Kyle Lowry fell to the floor and looked in considerable pain, as he held his left ankle.

After dragging himself to the baseline, Lowry got up and hobbled to the locker room when play stopped. He did return, but after exiting again late in the third quarter, he spent the rest of the game icing his ankle back in the locker room.

Already struggling to compete with LeBron James and the Cavaliers, attempting to do it without their three-time All-Star, doesn’t bare thinking about for Toronto. He has been one of the few bright sports for the Raptors in the first two games of this series.

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Lowry has already been in the wars during these playoffs, after his back flared up during the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. Fortunately for the Raptors, he didn’t have to miss any games.

However, you have to wonder how the 31-year old’s ankle sprain will affect him going forward? Will he still be able to have an influence against the Cavaliers, as Toronto looks to recover from a 0-2 series deficit?

Of course, first things first, will Lowry be available for Game 3 on Friday? He believes he will be, as he told Sportsnet‘s Michael Grange and other members of the media:

"“It’s painful, but I’m not going to complain about it. I’m going to get treatment and I’m going to get ready to play in Game 3.”"

The 2006 first round draft pick missed 21 games during the regular season, after undergoing right wrist surgery. However, he is renowned for his toughness, so you know he will do everything possible to be on the floor come Friday night.

Regardless of Lowry’s status, the Raptors will need a better effort from his backcourt teammate, DeMar DeRozan. The 27-year old endured a personal nightmare on Wednesday night, with one of the worst performances of his entire professional career.

DeRozan missed his first nine shots and finished 2-for-11 from the field. (He was just 1-for-3 from the charity stripe.) His final statline included a meagre five points, three rebounds and a trio of assists.

The Raptors have been in a similar position before against the Cavaliers, after losing the first two games of last season’s Eastern Conference finals. But no matter how much they learned from that experience, it won’t help without a healthy Lowry or more productive DeRozan.

This is arguably the Raptors’ most talented roster in franchise history. Regardless, it’s gut check time and we’re about to find out what this team is made of.

Next: Raptors Stronger than you Think

Let’s go with the positive assumption Lowry will definitely play in Game 3. Do the Raptors still have a realistic chance of winning this series? Further, can they contain James, who seems to be playing better than ever? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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