76ers vs. Heat: Kyle Lowry’s Philly Debut Pushed Past All-Star Weekend
The Miami Heat are in South Philly on Wednesday to take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately for those hoping to see a revenge game out of the Philly native, Kyle Lowry, they’ll have to wait until next month.
On Tuesday, the recently waived Lowry officially signed his contract with the 76ers, as expected. While he’s a member of the roster as the Sixers gear up for their matchup against the team Lowry last played for, the veteran guard is going to take some time to get acclimated and back in optimal shape before taking the floor.
According to a team official, Lowry is partaking in a ramp-up phase currently. The plan is to have him join the team after the NBA All-Star break. As a result, he’s been ruled out against the Heat on Wednesday, with "return to play reconditioning" being his official status for the night.
Lowry’s absence shouldn’t come as a surprise. The last time the 37-year-old veteran took the floor was on January 21 in Orlando. Against the Magic, Lowry checked in for 25 minutes. The 18-point loss on the road ended up being his final game with the Heat, as he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets shortly after.
There wasn’t a fit for Lowry in Charlotte. With the Hornets placing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, it was apparent that it would only be a matter of time before the veteran guard reaches a buyout and scans the free agency market for a contender.
Lowry eyed the Sixers, and there was mutual interest. As Philly moved on from their backup point guard Patrick Beverley at the trade deadline, Lowry became a well-known potential buyout prospect. Over the weekend, Lowry and the Hornets agreed to part ways, and the Philly native quickly announced his plans to return to his hometown to play for the Sixers.
After Wednesday’s action against the Heat, the Sixers will get a week off. They are set to return to the Wells Fargo Center to host the New York Knicks next Wednesday. If all goes well, there’s a chance Lowry could make his debut by then.
