Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry returned to the lineup for Friday night's 103-94 loss to the Hornets in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Lowry scored 25 points in 38 minutes for the Raptors. He also had five assists and five rebounds.
"I knew I was going to have a little bit of rust,'' Lowry said. "I started to get a little bit of rhythm in the game so hopefully it's something I can build off of."
Lowry, who was shooting just 29.7 percent from the field since the All-Star break, had missed the previous three games for what he described after Friday's game as "dislocated fingers and swelling."
He entered Friday averaging 18.0 points and 7.0 assists.
The Raptors went 1-2 without him.
Information from ESPN.com's Mike Mazzeo and The Associated Press was used in this report.