Kyle Lowry ties franchise record as Raptors beat Suns 107-98
Kawhi Leonard scored 19 points, grabbed six rebounds and added five assists as the visiting Toronto Raptors defeated the Phoenix Suns 107-98 to move to 8-1.
Kyle Lowry added 11 points, 12 assists and six rebounds for the Raptors, who have won eight of their first nine games this season. The Suns have lost seven in a row after winning their season opener.
It was the seventh consecutive game in which Lowry has had 10 or more assists, matching a team record. It was his sixth double-double of the season.
Happening late in the the third quarter during the Raptors’ Friday-evening matchup with the Phoenix Suns, Lowry got the ball on the break, found a trailing Fred VanVleet at the wing, delivered it to him and he buried it from distance for Lowry’s 10th assist on the evening.
Coming into Friday’s game as the NBA’s assist leader, averaging 11.1 dimes per game, Lowry could become the new Raptors leader in this category Sunday when the team takes on the Los Angeles Lakers.
In total, Lowry finished with 12 assists on Friday in a 107-98 Raptors win that saw the team jump out to an 8-1 start on the season, another franchise record.
Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks for Toronto while Serge Ibaka added 14 points and Pascal Siakam had 10.
Leonard left the game and went to the dressing room with 2:42 to play with what was described as a jammed foot.
Isaiah Canaan had 19 points for the Suns, while Deandre Ayton had 17 points and a career-best 18 rebounds. Devin Booker added 18 points, Josh Jackson 11 while Trevor Ariza and TJ Warren had 10 apiece.
However, it wasn’t all good news for the Raptors as Kawhi Leonard exited the game earlier, with what appeared to be a foot injury. He headed to the locker room at the 2:42 mark of the fourth quarter, Leonard did not return to the bench to see the conclusion of what was a 107-98 Raptors win.
After the game, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse told reporters in Phoenix that that the injury wasn’t ankle-related and that he merely “jammed his foot.” Before adding that he won’t be rushed back in, but should be fit for the next match.
Leonard will be re-evaluated Saturday with what the team says was a jammed left foot. After the game he held serve with some of the reporters and didn’t seem concerned by the injury.
It’s unclear at the moment if this will affect, in any way, Leonard’s availability Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers or beyond.
Leonard led all scorers Friday with 19 points. On the season he’s averaging 27.3 per game.
The Raptors have been cautious with their 27-year-old star, giving him days off during back-to-backs and not playing him on the road until this Friday evening.
Booker was back with the Suns after missing three games. Meanwhile, VanVleet returned to the Toronto lineup after missing four games and Anunoby returned after missing three games.
Next up for the Raptors is a trip to California and a match up against Labron James’ LA Lakers.
Peace,
Burke
