Kyle Lowry Returns From Thumb Fracture

The Toronto Raptors dropped Kyle Lowry back into the deep end on Tuesday night, clearing him to play 41 minutes in his first game back from a small thumb fracture sustained in early November.

Lowry missed a total of 11 games for the Raps with what was formally diagnosed as a fracture of the distal phalanx in his left thumb.

While Toronto managed to continue to win with Lowry sidelined, the All-Star will bolster the defending champions with another offensive option at a time when a number of secondary Raptors players are raising their game.

In nine games of action this year, Lowry has averaged 20.7 points and 7.0 assists per game. Lowry struggled from the field in his December debut but did manage to finish the game with a 12-point, 11-assist double-double.