One of the main reasons why the Orlando Magic were able to stun the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round playoff matchup was the offensive struggles of Kyle Lowry, who was held scoreless despite playing 34 minutes. However, Magic head coach Steve Clifford still had high praises for the Raptors' All-Star guard because he was able to contribute in a lot of ways for his team.
.@OrlandoMagic's SClifford: "People are saying stuff abt Kyle (Lowry) but he was 8 asts, 2 TOs, he missed some shots he won't miss next time & (@Raptors ) were plus-12 when he was on the floor.When you watch the film, the guy played a terrific game & he missed a couple of shots."
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 14, 2019
Although Kyle Lowry missed all of his seven shots (including six from beyond the arc), he finished with seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals. He also orchestrated the Raptors' offense especially when they made that 20-2 run between the second and the third quarter that erased the Magic's 16-point lead.
However, if Toronto wants to have a better chance of taking Game 2 on Tuesday, they will need Lowry to start making his shots.
This season, he's averaging close to 15 points per game on 41 percent shooting, meaning he's capable of making shots. An off-night might have hurt Toronto in Game 1, but Lowry isn't expected to struggle for an entire seven-game series.
Lowry has been an integral part of the Raptors' success over the last three seasons, and he's battle-tested in the playoffs. Just like him, Toronto will look to bounce back next game as they aim to win one at home before heading to Orlando for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday.
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