Kyle Lowry, Kyle Lowry injury update
Feb 14, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) reacts during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. USA TODAY Sports / Mike DiNovo

Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry will undergo wrist surgery Tuesday and will miss at least six weeks of action, per reports. Lowry, who will have loose bodies removed from his wrist, is expected to return in time for the postseason, the team said in a statement on Monday.

The Raptors acquired veterans Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker before last week's NBA Trade Deadline but have been playing without Lowry, who missed the team's only two games since the All-Star break. Many analysts believe that a fully-healthy Raptors squad is capable of pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to a seven-game series during a potential playoff showdown later in the year.

With Corey Joseph as the starting point guard, the Raptors notched up impressive victories over the Boston Celtics (107-97) and Portland Trail Blazers (112-106) but could struggle to keep the winning streak going during the business end of the season when teams are scrambling for playoff seeding. The Raptors, who finished with the No. 2 seed last season, have slipped to No.4 this year and could plummet further if teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers can capitalise on Lowry's injury.

Kyle Lowry injury update: Would Raptors slip below fourth seed?

If the Raptors slip below the No. 4 seed, Dwane Casey's team won't enjoy the benefits of home advantage during the playoffs. Last season, Toronto braved through the first two rounds before pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, thanks largely to the vociferous crowd at the Air Canada Centre. "It (Lowry's injury) was one of those things where we didn't know it was as serious as it was. That's why you get second opinions as he did and we decided -- he decided to have it done now hopefully to be able to have some time before the playoffs to get some games in," Casey told reporters ahead of Toronto’s away game against the New York Knicks on Monday, via ESPN.

Lowry travelled to New York with the team and will undergo surgery in the Big Apple on Tuesday. "I'm not surprised by anything. It was a little sore, I didn't know what it was. It's not really something you can say I'm surprised. I had no idea what it would be. I thought some local treatment may have helped it, but it just wasn't getting any better," the All-Star point guard said regarding his injury. Kyle Lowry is averaging 22.8 points and 6.9 assists per game this season. Stay tuned for the latest Kyle Lowry injury update.