Newer fans of the Toronto Raptors have been spoiled, not just by having a perennial contender to root for (up until this season, anyway), but also by the inordinate number of clutch, late shots that have happened in big games. Even among so much competition, Morris Peterson’s game-winner stands out.
Though nothing will ever match ‘The Shot’, even OG Anunoby’s series-saving prayer in Game 3 against Boston last September was epic, albeit more so had they won the series.
This hasn’t always been the case, which is why Peterson’s impossible game-tying three-point prayer against Michael Ruffin and the Washington Wizards in 2007 remains so memorable.
Tuesday marked the 14th anniversary of that moment, which would allow the Raptors to ultimately prevail 123-118 over a shell-shocked Wizards squad in overtime. To celebrate this unique and somewhat trivial bit of Raptor history, let’s take a look back.
Toronto Raptors: Morris Peterson’s game-winner, examined
The Lead-Up
After following the franchise through the past few years of deep playoff runs, it’s tough to muster much care for what was a regular-season game taking place a few weeks shy of the playoffs. Still, there was considerable significance to the game, as the visiting Raptors came in just half a game up on Washington for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference standings.
Toronto was also without their ‘glue guy’, Jorge Garbajosa, who had suffered a gruesome leg break in a game against Boston a few days prior. Joey Graham wound up starting in his place alongside Chris Bosh in the frontcourt, netting one of just two career double-doubles in the process.
The Game
Looking back, the funny thing about the tilt against the Wizards is how its remembered as Peterson’s game. In fact, MoPete spent all of 0:55 on the floor for the Raps that night, a curious decision by eventual Coach of the Year Sam Mitchell given that the sharpshooter played more than 13 minutes in the game prior and almost 22 minutes in the next game.
Instead, this was Bosh’s night as he went head-to-head with Washington star Gilbert “Agent Zero” Arenas. CB4 poured in 37 points and added 14 rebounds for one of his best performances as a Raptor. His 15-24 shooting night looked all the more efficient next to the 9-for-29 mark put up by Arenas, who had 34 points.
While the end of regulation was Peterson’s time to shine, Bosh took over in overtime, scoring eight points on 4-5 shooting and closing out the contest with a game-sealing block on an Arenas lay-up attempt.
The Shot
Of course, the reason why we’re still talking about this game all these years later is the seemingly impossible nature of MoPete’s shot. After Anthony Parker’s inbound hail mary pass (they had no timeouts) was intercepted by Ruffin with his Wizards up by three and just over three seconds remaining, the veteran big man could have easily held onto the ball and secured the win.
Instead, Ruffin inexplicably decided to launch the ball up into the air, ostensibly to run out the clock. However, he clearly didn’t get as much on the throw as he’d hoped, as it quickly came back down into the waiting arms of Peterson. In front of a leery-of-fouling Caron Butler, he puts up an off-balanced, falling-out-of-bounds prayer with about 0.2 seconds on the clock.
The Aftermath
Amidst all the jubilation in the Raptors’ locker room, the quote of the night came from the despondent Wizards’ room as the team sat in shock over what had transpired.
“I think I’m going to go home and watch ‘Titanic’ and see if the ship still goes down,” an incredulous Arenas told reporters. “I don’t even know what to say about this one.”
It’s impossible to know how much the impact of the game lingered within the respective consciousness of the two teams, but the shocking finish would mirror the remainder of the season for each club. Toronto would go 7-3 to secure the franchise’s first division title, while Washington would go 3-8 to finish out the campaign.
Ironically enough, losing a tiebreaker to the New Jersey Nets, who also finished 41-41, was all that kept the Wizards from a first-round playoff series against Toronto. In the end, though, the postseason didn’t go particularly well for either the Raptors, who lost to Vince Carter and the Nets in six games, or Washington, who were swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This type of moment can serve as a helpful glimmer of optimism for rebuild-wary Raptor fans. Even if the team isn’t positioned to contend next season, a hard-working team with character and likable guys can still produce memorable moments.
Yes, the 2006-07 Raptors were good, but Mo Pete’s shot offers a singular happy and remarkable moment apart from any further context.