The Toronto Raptors will be without two key veterans for a significant amount of time as both Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka were injured in Friday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Lowry suffered a small fracture in his left thumb in the first quarter after he took a defensive swipe at a rebound off Pelicans forward Derrick Favors. Lowry finished the half — although he was spotted checking his thumb multiple times — but didn’t return for the third quarter.
Head coach Nick Nurse said Lowry would see a specialist once the team gets to L.A. on Saturday.
“Originally we thought it was something in the nail bed because the nail bed turned black and blue,” Lowry said. “But we got some X-rays and we sent the X-rays off to the doctors and it’s a small fracture in the thumb.”
Ibaka’s injury occurred late in the second quarter when he landed awkwardly on his ankle while playing defence. After the game, Ibaka was spotted in a walking boot and head coach Nick Nurse called his injury a “pretty bad” ankle sprain, but said no bones were broken.
The Raptors called up rookie centre Dewan Hernandez from their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905, on Friday night in response to the injuries. Hernandez, who was the Raptors’ only draft pick in June’s NBA Draft, led the 905 with 24 points and 10 rebounds in their season-opening loss to Grand Rapids on Friday.
The Pelicans’ game was the first of a five-game western road trip for the Raptors. The team is next in action Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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