Kyle Lowry out tonight, possibly longer with wrist injury

Cast away those post-deadline feelings of jubilation — Kyle Lowry will miss tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics and perhaps more than that with a right wrist injury, per Dwane Casey.

“He hurt his wrist in the Charlotte game, it’s still, he had X-rays today or images today, he’s gonna get more images next week. So that’s a blow,” said Casey in his pre-game availability.

“That’s a huge blow for us. But it’s an opportunity for Cory and Delon to step in and play. I don’t know how long he’s gonna be out. It’s not gonna be a one-day thing.”

This is of course a significant blow ahead of one of the most anticipated and important games of the season. Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker are set to make their debuts with the team, and the season series edge over Boston hangs in the balance on Friday. Lowry’s absence Friday means the Raptors and Celtics will have played all four of their head-to-head match-ups this year without a full compliment of players.

In the wider scheme, any prolonged time one the sideline for Lowry will make the Raptors’ climb back up the Eastern Conference standings that much more daunting. The news also raises the question of why Lowry was active for the three-point contest and All-Star Game in New Orleans last weekend. We don’t have the information that the Raptors’ medical staff is privy to, but if there was any inkling that Lowry might not be 100 percent, it’s troubling that he’d be given the all-clear to play in an exhibition game.