Citing personal reasons, the Kyle Lowry of the Heat will not play when the Toronto Raptors visit Miami on Monday night.
It is the first meeting between the two clubs since Lowry joined the Heat in August after nine seasons with the Raptors.
The 35-year-old veteran leads the Heat with 8.3 assists per game, in addition to giving 13.4 points per game.
Lowry leads the NBA with 22 offensive fouls.
Lowry has long embodied the entire fighting side of the Raptors. An important figure in Toronto’s sports history, his return to Queen City is eagerly awaited. The Heat will play in Canada on February 1 and April 3.
Prior to that, the Heat will also be hosting the Raptors on January 29th.
Bam Adebayo is expected to return to action on Monday after injuring his right thumb.
Adebayo made only 18 appearances but averaged 18.7 points.
Gary Trent could return to play for the Raptors. He lost four games with an injury to his left ankle.
Leading his team with 1.9 steals per game, Trent has averaged 16.4 points per game this season.
He is second in the team in three-point shooting performance. Fred VanVleet has a success rate of 40.9% and Trent 36.8%.
Khem Birch will be out again. He suffered a broken nose against the Pistons on Friday in Detroit.
This will be the third game of a five-game journey for the Raptors. They lost in Detroit but won in Milwaukee.
Miami ranks third in the East, five places ahead of Toronto.
