While Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry is not blaming his hamstring injury for his recent struggles, he did suggest that he is not yet at 100 percent following his return to the lineup.

Lowry suffered a left hamstring injury in their first round clash with the Atlanta Hawks, forcing him to miss four straight games–including the first two matches of their showdown with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Heat won Games 1 and 2 against the Sixers, but they lost back-to-back in Games 3 and 4 since Lowry returned.

Of course it helped the Sixers that Joel Embiid also came back the same time as Lowry did for the Heat, but the lack of impact of the veteran guard in the past couple of contests is becoming clear.

After Sunday's 116-108 loss, Lowry opened up about his hamstring and made a rather concerning admission about his status.

“I'd put it this way, you don't want to play with it,” the Heat veteran playmaker said, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Now that is something Heat fans wouldn't love to hear. Kyle Lowry is a key cog of the starting unit, and if he's unable to perform at his very best, then that is going to be a problem.

The Heat are already having a hard time figuring out how to defend the Sixers with Joel Embiid, and so Lowry being in pain will make it only harder for them.

Fortunately, the Heat have a two-day break before returning home for Game 5. Hopefully, that will be enough time to get Lowry healthier and better prepared to help Miami regain advantage in the series.