Raptors Rapture
Fansided

Top five Toronto Raptors’ games of the 2019-20 NBA season

By Pirasanth Gunasekaram

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 22: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Tim Hardaway Jr. #11 of the Dallas Mavericks defends during the second half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on December 22, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 22: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Tim Hardaway Jr. #11 of the Dallas Mavericks defends during the second half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on December 22, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors-OG Anunoby (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

2. The OG Anunoby game-winner – Game 3 versus the Boston Celtics

This is similar to number three. The only difference the Raptors were down 0-2, not 2-3. If Toronto lost this game, the likelihood of coming back and win the series is slim to none because no team in the history of the NBA has ever come back from a 3-0 lead. So, they had to win this game to stay alive.

Lowry started the game like he did not want to leave the bubble yet by helping the team with a seven-point lead in the first half. However, the Celtics turned the Raptors’ lead into a 10-point lead in their favor at halftime.

In the second half, Toronto’s defensive was phenomenal. They had six straight stops that created a 21-9 run.

Siakam’s three-pointer put the Raptors back in the lead with 3:40 left to play in the third.

A controversial call during the end of the third happened when Celtics point guard Brad Wanamaker kneed Lowry in the groin while driving to the hoop late in the third quarter. Lowry was in pain after the hit.

Both Lowry and Nurse were outraged when the officials reviewed the play where Lowry got hurt and said it was a defensive foul on Lowry. Wanamaker’s shot and free throw got Boston the lead 80-76 with one quarter left.

During the fourth quarter, Norm Powell drilled a three with 6:29 to play that got Toronto a two-point lead. After losing the lead, VanVleet drove towards the hoop to tie it up during the last couple of minutes of the game.

In the final minute of the game, Celtics point guard Kemba Walker found Daniel Theis for an uncontested dunk with 0.5 on the clock. It looked like the game was over because there were only 0.5 seconds left.

But somehow Anunoby catches a pass from Lowry and he hit the game-winner to keep the Raptors alive in the playoffs.

The final score was 104-103 with Lowry getting 31 points, six rebounds, and eight assists while Walker had 29 points, three rebounds, and three assists.

At that point, the series was 2-1 with Boston still leading in the series. Eventually, the Celtics beat the Raptors in seven to advance to the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat.

Home/Raptors News