TITLE: Ovation in Toronto greets Kyle Lowry’s brief return as 76ers top Raptors 115–102
SLUG: kyle-lowry-ovation-toronto-76ers-raptors
CONTENT:
TORONTO — Kyle Lowry needed less than two minutes on the floor to turn Scotiabank Arena into a celebration of his past. The 39-year-old guard, now with the Philadelphia 76ers, checked in for the final 1:57 of Monday night’s 115–102 victory over the Toronto Raptors and was met by a standing ovation from the crowd of 18,127.
Fans had spent much of the fourth quarter chanting “We want Lowry!” while the 76ers maintained a double-digit lead. Head coach Nick Nurse, who guided Toronto to the 2019 NBA title, obliged and substituted Lowry for Tyrese Maxey, creating a moment that could be the veteran’s final appearance in the arena where he won a championship and became a six-time All-Star.
Lowry misfired on all three of his three-point attempts, including an airball on the first play Nurse drew up for him out of a timeout. “I probably caught him a little cold,” the coach admitted, but added that he had always intended to give the guard a chance to play.
Despite the empty stat line, Lowry left the court carrying the game ball. “I just experienced one of the greatest moments of my career,” he said afterward. Monday marked his first action since Dec. 23 against Brooklyn.
Now in his 20th NBA season, Lowry arrived for the road game wearing an Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs jersey and repeated his intention to sign a one-day contract so he can eventually retire as a Raptor. “That hasn’t changed,” he said on Sunday.
Source: ESPN
