Heat Lose in Overtime; Kyle Lowry Returns from the Bench
Posted : 06 April 2023
The beginning of Saturday night's 126-114 overtime loss to the Orlando Magic featured Miami Heat player Kyle Lowry doing something he hadn't done in almost a decade; he was on bench.
With 6:21 remaining in the first quarter on Saturday, Lowry, who hadn't played since Feb. 2 due to left knee pain, replaced Heat standout Jimmy Butler. When he did, a 677-game streak of starts was broken.
The last time Lowry came off the bench was on January 26, 2013, when he was playing for the Toronto Raptors against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He claimed he only wanted to lend a hand where he can after sitting out 15 straight games.
When questioned about if he cared about continuing, Lowry responded. “At this point right now, no,
“I know in my heart I'm a starter, but right now we have to figure out things. And me and [Heat coach Erik Spoelstra] talked. He wants to make sure I'm healthy enough to not have a setback and have to change the lineup again and have to change the rotation again.”
Lowry had to get off the stationary bike he had been warming up on behind the Heat bench, which caused a small delay in his entrance into Saturday's game. He had to take off his warm-ups, a heating pad, and a second wrap before entering the game.
In 36 minutes, Lowry—who will turn 37 later this month—had 12 points and four assists. After the game, Spoelstra acknowledged that the high number of minutes "definitely wasn't the plan," but claimed that the Heat's rotation had to be changed because big man Cody Zeller had to leave the game due to breaking his nose and needing stitches under his eye, and guard Tyler Herro was constrained due to food poisoning.
Spoelstra and the Heat players were impressed with Lowry despite the circumstances.
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