Kyle Lowry's original plan was to sit out against one of the NBA's worst teams in the Phoenix Suns, as the Toronto Raptors noted “load management” as the reason for his and Kawhi Leonard's absence. Leonard sat out, but Lowry did anything but, playing a whopping team-high 40 minutes in a close game against the Suns.

But the Raptors were coming off a loss to the Boston Celtics, which only made Lowry more eager to see the floor again, as he “really wanted to play and win this game,” according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.

Lowry has battled injuries since a 20-point win over the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 12, and has yet to shoot 50 percent or better in any of the seven games since. On Thursday, he shot a poor 4-of-15 from the floor against Phoenix, but mustered 16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the last-second win through a Pascal Siakam left-handed layup.

“I'm a little bit out of shape, out of condition,” Lowry admitted. “I need to stay in the gym and continue to work to find the rhythm, find the shot. I've just got to find it. It will come.”

The Raptors point guard is shooting 32.3 percent from the field in his six games since the new year started and a baffling 25.6 percent from deep.

Even before the injuries, signs of a decline in his play were there, as he's shot only 41.6 percent from the floor and 31.3 percent from deep — all while shooting the least he has since his first season with the Raptors.

Though he doesn't need any reminders, as Lowry is his own worst critic when it comes to his season-long shooting slump.

“I'm super hard on myself,” he said. “I've gotta learn at times not to be so hard on myself and say, ‘When it comes, it comes' and be patient. As long as our team is winning, I don't really care. And then when primetime comes, I've gotta be ready to go.”

Lowry has had a poor reputation of bad shooting performances in the playoffs, something he's looking to put in the rearview mirror with this new-look team this season.