Raptors coach Nick Nurse admitted he has been concerned that point guard Kyle Lowry has been sidelined for virtually all of the past two weeks with quad and back issues that have limited him to playing in just one of Toronto's past eight games. "Yeah, I think a little bit," Nurse said before the Raptors faced the Chicago Bulls here at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday evening. "You're always concerned. You want an All-Star player back as soon as possible. "Any of our guys, we want them back as soon as possible ... I think we're positive and hopeful that it's going in the right direction, and we'll see him back soon."
Leonard and Lowry have only been in the lineup together for four of the 12 Raptors games this month, though the expectation ahead of a late Christmas practice was that both would be in to face the Heat on Boxing Day in Miami. Rotating starting centres Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas have also been banged up, with Valanciunas still out for a while due to his thumb injury, with only shooting guard and Pascal Siakam reliably good to go just about every night.
Nick DePaula: At 6:36 AM today I received a text: “Vanessa Bryant did not renew contract. Kobe and Nike are done.” I’ve been working since to confirm what this means ahead for the Nike / Kobe Bryant partnership. As of right now — there is no ongoing contract for future Kobe releases. pic.twitter.com/5vuyQg6Gw6