Lowry lauded for leadership role

Lowry has played in 39 of Miami’s 43 games this season and is averaging 13.4 points, 8.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. He played nearly 35 minutes with eight points on 2-for-11 shooting from the field in Miami’s loss at home to Philadelphia on Saturday night.

The 35-year-old has been lauded for his leadership role on the Heat, who were third in the East with a 27-16 record going into games Sunday night.

“The way he is and his makeup is everything that we’re about,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters Saturday. “And I love watching him compete every night. He’s a maestro in terms of how he can dictate a game and manipulate it, and he can do it on both ends of the court.”

The Heat might also be without centre Bam Adebayo, who was expected to play his first game after missing six weeks after hand surgery. He is now listed as questionable.

The chance to see Lowry and say hello was the most intriguing part of the game for the Raptors. Whether any were able to visit with him Sunday when both squads had a day off in South Florida is unknown, but it was catching up that was at the top of the Raptors’ agenda.

“I think it’s going to be fun, just seeing him,” Pascal Siakam said. “I don’t know what his mindset’s going to be but for us it’s just coming in, seeing a familiar face, enjoying the game.”

And treating the game with the respect all games deserve.

“It’s Miami,” Siakam said, “go out there and have fun and try to get a win.”

Toronto fans have come to learn recently that every game takes on its own personality regardless of which stars are or aren’t in uniform.

Missing two starters at home Tuesday, the Raptors pushed the Phoenix Suns, who went into the game with the second-best record in the league, to the final seconds before losing.

They came up with a flat performance while losing in Detroit on Friday before rebounding for an impressive road victory over Milwaukee on Saturday.

If that doesn’t underscore the mercurial nature of the NBA right now, nothing does. And for Raptors coach Nick Nurse, the percentages are fine with him.

“I’d like to say that it’s two really well played games out of three, like really well played games,” Nurse said Saturday.

But it also provides proof that the Raptors aren’t quite there yet in their search for consistency.

“We’re one of those teams that I feel can compete with anybody when we’re at our best,” VanVleet said. “When we’re not, we’re pretty average.

“The challenge is to be consistent and raise the floor and let your bad nights be better than what our bad nights have been. With a young team, I think the weather is a little bit more unpredictable.”

Toronto has already ruled centre Khem Birch (broken nose) out for Monday’s game and lists Gary Trent Jr. as questionable with ankle swelling. Rookie Scottie Barnes is not on the official injury report after sitting out Saturday’s game with a sore knee.