By Canadian Press

Lowry returns from back injury, Leonard sits against visiting Indiana Pacers

Jan 6, 2019 | 1:45 PM

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors finally have Kyle Lowry back in the lineup after the all-star guard missed 10 of the last 11 games.

Lowry was scheduled to start against the visiting Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

“We’ll probably keep the rotations a little short for him early and then try to get him through moments of the game,” coach Nick Nurse said before tipoff. “Always, we’d like to have him in at the end and all that stuff, so we’re going to try to ease him in, that’s a good way of putting it.”

The Raptors were without Kawhi Leonard, who sat out Sunday’s game for body maintenance. Leonard was coming off a busy night Saturday, scoring 30 points in Toronto’s 123-116 victory in Milwaukee.

“Just resting him after a heavy week. Think it’s just the best thing to do,” Nurse said.  

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The Raptors star, who appeared in just nine games for San Antonio last season because of a quadriceps injury, hasn’t played in back-to-back games this season as the Raptors monitor his health.

Lowry initially missed four games with a left thigh contusion, returned for a game Dec. 22 against the Philadelphia 76ers, only to sit out another six in a row with lower back pain.

The Raptors went 6-4 in his absence.

Nurse lamented the fact Lowry and Leonard haven’t had much time playing together recently.

“It kind of goes with the territory, especially for us this year,” Nurse said. “We’ve just got to get here very day and see who’s healthy and ready to go and then start figuring out what we’re going to do and how the rotations are going to play out.”

Lowry has put up 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists through 30 games this season.

Leonard is averaging 27.2 points and 7.9 rebounds.

The Canadian Press