Toronto Raptors: 15 greatest NBA playoff moments

10. 2001 Eastern Conference Quartefinals: First ever playoff win

Making the playoffs is a nice story. However, winning a playoff game is a much sweeter moment. When the Raptors first made the postseason in 2000, they weren’t able to pick up a single victory as they were swept by the New York Knicks, 3-0.

When they faced off against the Knicks again the following season, Toronto already had a taste of playoff experience. The Raptors were ready this time.

But when they dropped Game 1, you’d forgive anybody for panicking, just a little bit. Falling behind 2-0 in a best-of-five series is essentially a death sentence. Game 2 in Madison Square Garden, the Raptors’ backs were against the wall.

The first half was stereotype early 2000s basketball. Both teams shot below 40 percent, the Knicks only attempted one 3-pointer and Toronto scraped out a two-point lead.

This was precisely the type of game the Knicks wanted to play. New York played at the league’s slowest pace, allowed the fewest points per game (86.1), and scored just 88.17 points per contest themselves, ranking 29th in the NBA.

Toronto was a more balanced team. The Raptors ranked in the top half of the league in both offensive and defensive efficiency and certainly weren’t looking to play this type of a slugfest.

In the second half, the Raptors finally broke free. Vince Carter, Alvin Williams and Charles Oakley all had big halves, as the team managed to shoot 50 percent from the field and 14-20 from the free-throw line. They scored 55 second-half points, more than the Knicks did in the first three quarters.

Toronto pulled away, giving the Raptors their first playoff win as a franchise and a chance to win the series.