Toronto Raptors: 15 greatest NBA playoff moments

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Toronto Raptors – Vince Carter (Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw/Allsport) /

7. 2001 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Win first playoff series

The Raptors first playoff appearance didn’t go as planned. But after being swept by the New York Knicks the previous season, they found themselves in a five-game battle the next year.

The teams traded blows over the first four games of the series, alternating wins. New York took Game 1 and Game 3. Toronto captured Game 2 and Game 4.

At the time, the first-round matchup was decided in a best-of-five series. As the lower-seeded team, the Raptors were forced to go on the road to Madison Square Garden, the Mecca, for a winner-take-all Game 5.

The first quarter watched the two teams trade baskets back-and-forth with neither team gaining a real advantage. The Raptors shot 53 percent from the field, including 3-3 from distance against one of the lowest scoring teams in the NBA, but were only up one.

In the middle of the game, Toronto started to gently pull away. The Raptors outscored the Knicks 24-19 during the second quarter and 21-16 during the third. When the fourth quarter began, the Raptors had a comfortable 11-point lead (11 points in 2001 is much more significant than in today’s game).

With their season on the line, the Knicks fought back. Latrell Sprewell started to heat up, scoring 12 fourth-quarter points. With less than 1:56 remaining, the Raptors found themselves in a one-score game.

The next possession is one of the most exciting in franchise history:

Vince Carter’s midrange jumper hits everything but the bottom of the net, and the ball is up for grabs. Antonio Davis squeezes it kicks it out to the top of the key. The offense restarts.

Carter pulls up again from the mid-range. This time it’s short. It’s a scramble. The ball hits the deck without being touched. Carter, flying in after his own miss, grabs the board. The rim’s open. He makes an easy layup, and the Raptors are back in control.

Toronto was able to hold on to the lead and close out the Knicks for the first playoff series win in franchise history. The Raptors would move on to the second round to face Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers.