Raptors need Lowry to step up as season hangs by thread

TORONTO (AP) — After two bad games in Cleveland, Kyle Lowry isn’t lacking confidence as the Eastern Conference finals shift to Toronto.

Still, if Toronto’s All-Star guard doesn’t step up soon, the Raptors look likely to become the latest victim of a Cleveland sweep.

Lowry made just eight of 28 shots, going 1 of 15 from long range, in Games 1 and 2 at Cleveland. Both were blowout wins for the Cavaliers. Now, Lowry is hoping a return home will help Toronto against LeBron James and the surging Cavs.

“I think we’ll be better at home,” Lowry said practice Friday. “We’re supposed to be better at home. We’re down 2-0 but we haven’t played on our home floor yet.”

Toronto is 6-2 at home in the playoffs after going 32-9 at Air Canada Centre in the regular season.

“We’ve got to go out tomorrow night and hold down our fort,” DeMar DeRozan said.

Whether at home or on the road, handling James and Cavaliers is hard enough. Without an effective Lowry, Toronto faces even longer odds of stealing a win in the series.

“It’s always important to have your top player but, again, we’ve been here before,” coach Dwane Casey said. “There’s nights he has hasn’t played well.”

Lowry has certainly had an up-and-down postseason. He scored 96 points over the final three games against Miami, but has seven games with 10 or more attempts where his shooting …

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