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The Kyle Lowry deal is done, and the point guard isn't ready for the emotions of his first game back – Toronto Star

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3 years ago

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Deep, deep down, as much as a hardened 35-year-old professional athlete would like to suppress it, Kyle Lowry can feel the emotion building, the tears welling.

They will ultimately burst forth, it is unavoidable, but he’s not anxious to experience it.

“I’m not looking forward to that first game being back because I know there will be a tribute and I know I’m going cry,” the latest ex-Raptor said Friday night. “I’m not looking forward to it.”

The deal that sends Lowry to the Miami Heat for veteran guard Goran Dragic and promising young big man Precious Achiuwa was made official Friday, ending an unprecedented era of Raptors success.

It was a logical move because the Raptors are far more focused on the long-term future than they are with next season but that didn’t make it any easier on any of the principals.

“I think the direction Toronto is going in is they want to give the opportunities to Freddie (VanVleet), Pascal (Siakam), OG (Anunoby), a couple young guys, the young draft picks they have — an opportunity to see what they can do,” Lowry said. “They have some great core pieces … They’re in great hands and great shape

“It was a situation for me where it was an opportunity to do something different to put myself in a spot for my family and my kids to grow and be happy. It’s time to turn the page in the book.”

The Raptors turned the page willingly. They saw a chance to start the process anew and jettisoning Lowry made the most sense.

“I think we knew this was a better direction for the team, and ultimately the better direction for him,” Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said. “I think he gets to a place he’s at least always been intrigued by and gets to play with some guys he’s talked with over the years.”

The return for Lowry is not insignificant.

Dragic may ultimately move on — Webster admitted they have explored trade options already for the 35-year-old guard — but, for now, he’s an attractive depth piece and veteran presence on a relatively young Raptors team.

“We entertained (trade talks) and we were up front with Goran and his representatives, so it’s very transparent,” Webster said. “We’ve liked him from the start, Obviously, if we got an offer that was too good to refuse we’d listen but ultimately we want Goran here. He’s happy to be here, obviously he’s been able to carve out a very nice career for himself.”

One of the keys to the deal is how Achiuwa develops. The six-foot-eight forward was the 20th pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The 21-year-old native of Nigeria showed flashes in his rookie season with the Heat, averaging 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in just 12 minutes a game.

He has spent most of the summer with the Nigerian national team that just finished its run at the Tokyo Olympics and would seem to have a promising future.

“I don’t really put a cap to what I can accomplish,” he told ESPN earlier this week.

“I always feel like, as long as I accomplish the thing I have in mind at that time, I am so competitive that I must set another goal that is higher than the one at the time and that is what keeps me going.

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“Just setting new goals and just channelling everything to my mind, my body, my schedule, the way I sleep, my work ethic … just channelling everything into that new goal.”

Webster said the Raptors have been intrigued by Achiuwa since before he was drafted and the chance to get him was a key to the deal.

“Precious is a huge part of this deal for us,” the general manager said. “We really liked him last year in the draft so I think that was for us a huge get in the sense of a young player that we like and fits.”

But losing Lowry is tough and represents a move in an entirely different direction for the franchise. And as much as fans feel it, he feels it, too.

“The fans, the friends I made, the people I met throughout my time, the relationships I built, the communities that I helped and the people that I helped in the communities — it’s hard to put that into perspective of one kind of sentence or paragraph,” he said. “It’s a culmination of a lot of things. When I retire I’ll go back and really think about everything that I’ve done in that place. It’s too much to put into words.”

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PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

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6 hours ago

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November 12, 2024

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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.

The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.

She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.

Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.

Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.

The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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4 days ago

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November 8, 2024

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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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4 days ago

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November 8, 2024

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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