Toronto Raptors: 15 greatest NBA playoff moments

3. Vince Carter scores 50 in 2001 Game 3 win against 76ers

The greatest individual performance in Raptors history without question, Vince Carter’s iconic 50-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers was the definition of Vinsanity.

Before this game, no Raptor had ever scored 50. Not only was Carter was the first to do it, he did it in an epic playoff battle.

The series was tied at 1-1 heading into this contest. Game 1 saw Carter battle directly with Allen Iverson. Iverson put up 36 in a loss. Carter scored 35 in a win. Round one Carter. In Game 2 Iverson dropped 54 in a Philadelphia victory. Round two Iverson.

From the opening tip, Carter made sure he would win round three. He scored 34 first-half points, going 8-9 from deep during the process. His first half performance is still one of the best scoring halves in NBA playoff history. 

After a couple of shots, Carter seemed to already know he was in for a big night.

"”Once I hit three or four shots, the rim seemed like it was getting bigger,” Carter said. ”Once the shots were really falling, I started moving with the ball more, getting my feet set and following through. It was hard, to tell the truth. I was tired.”"

Carter’s scoring effort will be remembered for a long time. However, what makes his performance more impressive is how he excelled at the rest of his game as well. By the time the game had finished, Carter played 45 minutes, scored 50 points, dished seven assists, grabbed six boards and even swatted away four shots.

Unfortunately, Carter’s failures later in this series sometimes taint the memory of his 50-point explosion. They shouldn’t. This performance was a once in a lifetime level accomplishment. It stands on its own merit.