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Lowry claims he's '100 percent'; Vasquez wants toughness from Raps

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

If you can boil it all down to one takeaway so far as to why the Toronto Raptors are in an 0-2 hole against the Washington Wizards, it's that their engine, point guard Kyle Lowry, is clearly banged up.

On Friday, however, Lowry did his best to put on a happy face, telling reporters after shootaround at Georgetown University that he's fully fit, despite appearing otherwise.

"I'm 100 percent healthy," Lowry said. "I understand the questions ... I have to pick it up, simple as that." 

The "100 percent" remark came with a wink, though.

Game 3 goes Friday night as the series switches to Washington. Lowry, hobbled by a back injury down the stretch of the regular season, also suffered a left shin contusion in Game 2. 

The All-Star, who averaged 17.8 points and 6.8 assists per game this season, has been limited to a combined 13 points and eight dimes on 5-of-20 shooting in two postseason losses. He fouled out of Game 1 and left Game 2 with the shin issue.

Greivis Vasquez, the man who replaced Lowry at the point after foul trouble in Game 2, said the Raptors need to show more toughness. 

"I'm not going to back down," Vasquez said, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg. "I might not be the greatest athlete but I will hit some big shots and I'm going to hit somebody."

What that last part means is anyone's guess, but the slow-footed Vasquez being forced to cover Wizards point guard John Wall is a mismatch from hell. The Raptors need Lowry on Friday night, and if he is sick, they should be hoping for a flu game-like performance. 

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