Just as it appeared the Raptors were inching back to being at full strength, they were dealt another blow as Kyle Lowry suffered a right ankle injury in the third quarter of their 128-92 win over the New York Knicks Monday night.
After grabbing a defensive rebound, Lowry attempted to push the ball in transition, but Knicks rookie centre Mitchell Robinson fell on the All-Star guard's legs, causing him to fall to the ground in pain.
Prayers up to Kyle Lowry who was helped to the locker room after injuring his right ankle. 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/BjOTQz8XSN
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) March 19, 2019
Lowry was helped to the locker room and did not return to the game.
According to a report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Lowry's injury is not believed to be serious.
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry is undergoing testing on right ankle injury that caused him to leave game, but belief is that it’s not serious, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 19, 2019
Following the game, Lowry admitted that he felt "pretty sore" adding that his ankle is "tender right now."
Lowry continued, expressing his displeasure with Robinson's role in the play:
"I watched the clip, think it was a little bit dirty – he grabbed me, pulled me down, but he's a young kid so I don't know if he did it on purpose or not, but I think he'll learn his lesson next time and [he'll] be a little bit more careful."
While the Raptors guard shared that he felt the play was 'dirty', he added that injuries are a part of the game and that he doesn't necessarily feel that the rookie's intent was malicious:
"It is what it is…it's an injury – it happens. Unfortunately, injuries can come at any point or any time in the season or any point in a game… I don't think he did it on purpose or that he'd think it was going to hurt me. I think he was trying to stop the play.
Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters postgame that Lowry's injury is "not terribly bad" , but it is unclear how long he will be sidelined.
In his explanation of the play, Lowry added some perspective on how he currently feels physically: "[Robinson] landed on the left [ankle], it went flat and the right one twisted but I'm able to walk. A little bit slower, but I'll be alright, I ain't going to complain."
Lowry's injury comes in his first game back from missing two games and just one day after Fred VanVleet returned to the lineup after missing 12 games. When asked about the team's constant battle with injuries, Lowry admitted there is a collective frustration within the group:
"It's super frustrating for our team, but we've done a great job of handling everything and playing through the injuries and rest games and trying to keep everyone together. We've done a great job of just continuing to have guys step up – in and out of lineups with Freddy being out, myself, and Kawhi."
Despite the team's injury woes, Lowry remains confident that the team is still in a good spot as the postseason nears, sharing that "we're a good team and all we need is a couple of games on the floor together and we'll be alright."
The Raptors are back in action Wednesday night when they travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder, who have lost three straight.