Raptors need the old Kyle Lowry to have a chance
CLEVELAND — Make no mistake about it: The Toronto Raptors wouldn’t be in this position if Kyle Lowry hadn’t gotten them here. But now, as they face superstar LeBron James and the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers, they need even more from Lowry.
And through the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals, the Raptors haven’t gotten it.
Lowry followed an eight-point Game 1 with a 10-point Game 2, and the Raptors fell into a 2-0 series hole with another blowout loss to the Cavaliers — this time 108-89 — on Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena. It’s the first time Toronto has lost consecutive games this postseason.
The 30-year-old point guard’s series totals read like this: 18 points, 8 assists, 9 turnovers, 8-for-28 shooting, including 1-for-15 from 3-point range.
With 2 minutes, 35 seconds left in Thursday’s second quarter, Lowry headed into the locker room because he needed to blow off some steam due to his poor play, he told ESPN’s Doris Burke.
Lowry struggled with his shot early in the playoffs — averaging 13 points on 30.6 percent shooting in the first eight games — before turning it on in the second round against the Miami Heat, averaging 26.2 points on 41.9 percent shooting in the final six games of the series.
James, on the other hand, posted 24 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in Game 1 and followed it up with 23 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds in Game 2 for his 15th career playoff triple-double. In Game 1, it was his baseline drive and one-handed, hammer dunk that caught everyone’s attention. This time, it was his two-handed reverse slam on the breakaway that brought the crowd to its feet in awe.
It was 46-46 late in the second before Toronto missed nine straight shots and Cleveland closed the first half on a 16-2 run to take a 14-point lead into the locker room.
The Cavaliers dominated the Raptors at the free-throw line (37 attempts to 18) and in the paint, 50-28.
Toronto obviously misses center Jonas Valanciunas (sprained right ankle).
James got help from the other two members of Cleveland’s Big Three, as Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love posted 26 and 19 points, respectively.
DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points for the Raptors.
Toronto coach Dwane Casey decided to insert Luis Scola back into the starting lineup, but he wasn’t very effective in place of Patrick Patterson. Casey is trying to make as many adjustments as possible, but with no success yet, the options might run out.
The Cavaliers are just too good, and the Raptors can’t stay with them if Lowry continues to the poor play.
