Good news for the Toronto Raptors: Point guard Kyle Lowry will be able to continue playing with a splint on his left ring finger for the next six weeks, via a press release from the team:
Kyle Lowry won’t miss time in regular season with finger injury
The Toronto Raptors will have starting point guard Kyle Lowry in the lineup when the season tips off, despite an injury to his left ring finger tendon.
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Spo
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry injured his left ring finger tendon during the third quarter of Wednesday's game versus Memphis.
Lowry's finger will be protected with a splint for approximately six weeks. During this time he will be able to participate in practices and play in games.
Lowry had a follow-up examination this afternoon in Toronto and did not accompany the team to Milwaukee for Friday's preseason finale.
The sound you hear is Toronto fans collectively breathing a long sigh of relief. Lowry suffered an injury early last year, but Jose Calderon was still in town back then. This year, Lowry's backups are D.J. Augustin, Dwight Buycks and (probably) Julyan Stone.
While Augustin had some solid years with the Charlotte Bobcats before a disappointing 2012-2013 in Indiana, and Buycks showed serious promise in summer league, Toronto has appeared lost throughout much of the preseason with its second unit on the floor. Stone, a 6'6 former Denver Nugget fighting for a roster spot, has at times looked like the team's best option at the point guard spot because of his ability on the defensive end.
Lowry himself stressed the importance of a strong start to the season at Tuesday’s practice, calling the Raptors’ early schedule “not easy.” If he had to be sidelined because of an injury, that would have turned into an enormous understatement.
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