Kyle Lowry Granted 'Personal Leave' for Raptors' 2 Preseason Games vs. Hornets

The Toronto Raptors will open their preseason schedule without All-Star guard Kyle Lowry. 

Per Michael Grange of SportsNet.ca, the Raptors announced that Lowry has been granted "personal leave" for games against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday and Monday. 

Toronto rookie Jalen Harris told reporters that they "haven’t really seen him much" when discussing Lowry's absence.

The Raptors will play three preseason games before opening the regular season on Dec. 23 against the New Orleans Pelicans. 

Their first two exhibition contests will be played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. They will return to their adopted home in Tampa, Florida, for their preseason finale against the Miami Heat on Dec. 18. 

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Canadian government denied the Raptors' request to play home games in Toronto this season. The team has moved its base to the Amalie Arena, which it will share with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Lowry is entering his 15th season in the NBA and his ninth straight year with the Raptors. He is the franchise's all-time leader in assists (3,939), steals (828) and helped them win the 2018-19 NBA championship.