4. 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Game 6 vs. 76ers
The 2001 second round series between the Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers is one of the biggest “what-if” moments in franchise history.
If Toronto were able to pull the upset, not only would the Raptors have reached the Eastern Conference Finals, it’s likely that they would have reached the NBA Finals. Who knows the ripple effects that would have had in regards to Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and the rest of the Raptors roster?
While the outcome didn’t favor the Raptors, the series itself is an all-time classic. Carter and Allen Iverson battled back-and-forth, each averaging greater than 30 points and five assists per contest. Perhaps the craziest stat is the number of minutes these two played. Carter averaged 44.6 minutes per game. Iverson averaged 46.
Down 3-2, Game 6 was an elimination contest for the Raptors. In the Air Canada Centre, with the season on the line, this was the most important game in franchise history at this time.
Toronto came out hot. Everyone on the offensive end was involved, with all five starters scoring at least four points. Philadelphia was intent on not letting Carter beat them. As a result, he carved them up with three assists in the opening frame.
Toronto carried a 15-point lead into the half. For a moment, it looked as if the Raptors would easily take the series to Philadelphia tied at 3-3.
But the 76ers wouldn’t give up that easily. Philadelphia locked in during the third quarter, as the Raptors failed to hit anything. Toronto shot 6-23 as a team during the third, with the team’s two stars, Carter and Antonio Davis combining to shoot 5-18 from the field. At the end of three, it was a two-point game.
The game was starting to slip away from Toronto. At the beginning of the fourth, the Raptors needed a stabilizing force. Morris “Mo-Pete” Peterson gave them just that. He banged two triples to start the quarter, pushing the lead to eight. At that moment, everyone could catch their breath.
Carter finished the quarter, going 6-8 from the field, and scoring 11 points in the game’s closing eight minutes. Toronto survived, forcing a Game 7 and one of the most significant moments in franchise history.