A nagging left hamstring injury has limited Kyle Lowry’s role and effectiveness in the 2022 playoffs.
Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry will remain sidelined with a left hamstring injury for Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers, the team announced on Wednesday.
#MIAvsPHI INJURY UPDATE: UPDATE: Kyle Lowry (hamstring) is traveling with the team to Philly for tomorrow’s Game 6 but has been ruled out.
Martin (ankle), Tucker (calf), Strus (hamstring), Vincent (knee) and Herro (ankle) are all listed as questionable.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 11, 2022
Lowry did not play in Tuesday’s Game 5. But no Lowry, no problem for the Heat as they cruised to a 120-85 victory in South Beach to grab a 3-2 series lead against the Sixers.
The veteran guard reinjured his left hamstring in the first half of Game 4 on Sunday, which the Heat lost 116-108. He had missed four straight playoff games before Game 3 of the series vs. Philadelphia with a strained left hamstring. The series is tied 2-2.
Lowry has struggled in the playoffs overall, averaging 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game — down from his regular-season average of 13.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 7.5 apg.
He missed four games earlier in the postseason because of the hamstring problem, then aggravated it in Miami’s Game 4 loss on Sunday. Lowry continued playing through much of that game, limping at times and finishing 3 for 10 from the floor, 0 for 6 on 3-pointers in Miami’s 116-108 loss.
“I know how competitive Kyle is and how much he wants to be out there, particularly at this point in his career,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Tuesday. “This is what he’s playing for, these moments. … I do feel for him.”
Game 6 is Thursday in Philadelphia (7 ET, ESPN). Game 7, if necessary, would be Sunday in Miami, which is also the first possible start date of the Eastern Conference finals.
What will matter most in Game 5 of Sixers-Heat?
Lowry got treatment Monday and was hopeful of getting onto the court for Game 5. It didn’t take the Heat long to determine that wouldn’t be possible.
“I know how much he wants to be out there,” Heat guard Tyler Herro said, adding that Lowry’s leadership will be missed. “He’s obviously not out there, so we need another voice out on the court that can help us get into our spots.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.