(2) Toronto vs. (3) Miami Series tied 0-0 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Location | Time | U.S. TV | Canadian TV | |||||||||||||||||||||||
May 3 | at Toronto | 8p | TNT | TSN | |||||||||||||||||||||||
May 5 | at Toronto | 8p | ESPN | Rogers Sportsnet | |||||||||||||||||||||||
May 7 | at Miami | 5p | ESPN | Rogers Sportsnet | |||||||||||||||||||||||
May 9 | at Miami | 8p | TNT | TSN | |||||||||||||||||||||||
May 11 | at Toronto+ | TBD | TNT | TSN | |||||||||||||||||||||||
May 13 | at Miami+ | TBD | ESPN | Rogers Sportsnet | |||||||||||||||||||||||
May 15 | at Toronto+ | TBD | TBD | TSN | |||||||||||||||||||||||
All times Eastern. |
The Toronto Raptors got a few monkeys off their backs in the 89-84 Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers. The Raptors will play the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals beginning on Tuesday at the Air Canada Centre.
Hadn't won a Game 7. Hadn't won a 7-game series. The Game 7 struggle against Brooklyn in 2014. The longest streak of not winning a playoff series. All gone.
The Raptors ran up a huge lead in the 3rd quarter, going up 78-64 at the end of 3. The 4th quarter had a lot of defense Toronto offensive setups; wearing down the shot clock was fine, but weren't setting up chances to score until it was too late.
Indiana had a 15-2 run in the 4th quarter; the Raptors only scored 11 points in the 4th quarter.
DeMar DeRozan led the way with 30 points in Game 7. Norman Powell had 13 points while Patrick Patterson and Kyle Lowry had 11 each for the Raptors.
The turning point of the series? A 21-2 run for the Raptors to start the 4th quarter of Game 5. Toronto was down 13 points going into the 4th quarter at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors finished the quarter with a 25-9 4th quarter advantage for a 102-99 win.
2016 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs scoreboard
2016 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs preview
CanadianCrossing.com NBA coverage
Toronto swept the season series against Miami 3-0. The teams have never played each other in the postseason. The Heat were down 3-2 in the opening series to Charlotte but won Games 6 and 7 to advance. The Raptors get to rest at home, but Miami has to travel with their passports.
---
The crowds at Jurassic Park, aka Maple Leaf Square, were huge and loud. The sidelines were filled with Toronto sports celebrities and, of course, Drake. Toronto native and Montréal Canadiens star P.K. Subban was there for Game 7 as were Blue Jays Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Sunday's winning pitcher and birthday man Marcus Stroman. That was a quick flight from Tampa after the game. Donaldson hit a home run and Stroman struck out 9 in 8 innings. Nice way to relax after a game and a long flight. Great to see Toronto sports stars rooting for their fellow compatriots.
#WeTheNorth lives on for another playoff series.
---
The Raptors started 0-2 on Rogers Sportsnet and 2-0 on TSN. In the last 3 games, the Raptors went 2-0 on Rogers Sportsnet and 0-1 on TSN. Rogers Sportsnet got 4 games in the 1st round so TSN should get 4 games in this round.
Game 5 ended up with a 6 pm start due to U.S. TV. Game 6 might have suffered the same fate to try and get the game on ESPN. Since Game 6 switched to ESPNews, the NBA decided to simulcast the ESPN feed on NBA TV. The 2nd round games will be evenly divided between TNT and ESPN; Game 7 could end up on ABC.
Toronto Raptors Playoff Record
Year | Opponent | Result |
2016 | Indiana | 4-3 |
2015 | Washington | 0-4 |
2014 | Brooklyn | 3-4 |
2008 | Orlando | 1-4 |
2007 | New Jersey | 2-4 |
2002 | Detroit | 2-3 |
2001 | Philadelphia | 3-4 |
2001 | New York | 3-2 |
2000 | New York | 0-3 |
Comments