The Toronto Raptors haven't beaten the Charlotte Hornets nee-Bobcats since March of 2013, a span of five consecutive meetings.
They'll have point guard Kyle Lowry back when they look to snap that unlikely losing skid on Friday. Lowry has missed the last three games to rest a variety of minor ailments, with Toronto going 1-2 in his stead to slow to 1-6 in their last seven outings.
The timing is surely appreciated, given how the team's struggled of late. Still, the team said they would practice caution with their star player, as he's looked worn down for the better part of two months. After going through shootaround without issue Friday, Lowry and the team have deemed him healed enough to return.
Lowry is averaging 18 points, 4.6 rebounds and seven assists in 58 games but he's shooting 36.5 percent since Dec. 30, averaging 15.2 points and 6.1 assists. His defense has noticeably slid some, too, likely out of necessity after carrying such a heavy offensive burden while DeMar DeRozan was sidelined earlier in the season.
Greivis Vasquez started with Lowry sidelined and averaged 10.7 points and eight assists, but he can't match Lowry's shot creation or the attention he commands from defenses.
The Raptors have a relatively light, albeit hardly easy, schedule coming up, with no back-to-back situations until March 16. That should allow Lowry to get his feet back under him while remaining relatively well-rested.
