REDEMPTION. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/ip8uSWxCaC
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 13, 2019
4 bounces on the rim. And then swoosh. The last of Kawhi Leonard's 41 points went through the net.
For the second time since 2016, the Toronto Raptors will play in the NBA Eastern Conference finals. The Raptors took care of the Philadelphia 76ers 4-3 in the conference semifinals.
The Raptors will play the Milwaukee Bucks, holders of the top seed, in the Eastern Conference finals. This is Milwaukee's first trip to the Eastern Conference finals since 2001. The Bucks won a NBA title in 1971 with Lew Alcindor.
The Raptors previous Eastern Conference finals trip was in 2016, losing to Cleveland 4-2. Milwaukee and Toronto met in the first round in 2017 with the Raptors winning 4-2.
Leonard had a flat-out steal in the first quarter; 3 steals overall. The team defence kicked in 3 shot clock violations in a key stretch.
The Bucks have only lost a single playoff game while the Raptors have lost 4 playoff games.
Milwaukee dominated the season series 3-1 over Toronto. The Raptors lone win 123-116 was in Milwaukee on January 5. The Bucks won 105-92 on January 31 and 104-99 on December 9, both in Toronto. Milwaukee also won at home 124-109 on October 29.
The Bucks finished 2 games ahead of the Raptors in the regular season standings.
The Raptors excellent defence will target Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Toronto Raptors move on to Philadelphia in 2019 NBA playoffs second round
2019 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs scoreboard
Kawhi Leonard had an amazing second round with stellar defence and much higher shooting percentages than in the regular season.
Leonard scored 20+ points in 9 straight playoff games, a new team record surpassing Vince Carter's stretch in 2001.
The Raptors had their third-ever Game 1 win in a playoff series. Leonard dominated Game 1 with 45 points and Pascal Siakam added 29 points in the Game 1 win.
What a game @raptors fans!! AMAZING WIN!! Plus I got to hang out with these friends!! Thanks for coming tonight Elisabeth Moss, @ShawnMendes @vladdyjr27 !! Hope to see you soon!! Game 2 is Monday! Let’s do it all over!! #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/Ngm3hSv9sw
— The Raptor (@the_raptor) April 28, 2019
Kyle Lowry has also played very well in the playoffs.
Game 2 had the Raptors trailing big before a solid comeback but couldn't wrestle away the lead. The bench disappeared in Games 2 and 3 but made a strong comeback in the rest of the series.
The 125-89 score in Game 5 might undersell how dominant the Raptors in that crucial game. Game 6 in Philadelphia felt almost the opposite, even with a closer margin.
Toronto is now 3-2 in a Game 7; 4-3 in deciding games.
2019 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs preview
CanadianCrossing.com NBA coverage
Game 4 proved to be rather unusual in that the game was carried by over-the-air networks. CTV carried the TSN (1/4/5) feed while ABC carried the ESPN-produced feed.
Rogers Sportsnet and TSN will split the coverage in the Eastern Conference finals in Canada. The Canadian outlets have split the 12 games evenly. TSN should have the extra game in the Eastern Conference finals.
TNT is the exclusive home for the Eastern Conference finals in the United States.
Toronto Raptors playoffs history
| 2019 | Philadelphia | 4-3 |
| 2019 | Orlando | 4-1 |
| 2018 | Cleveland | 0-4 |
| 2018 | Washington | 4-2 |
| 2017 | Cleveland | 0-4 |
| 2017 | Milwaukee | 4-2 |
| 2016 | Cleveland | 2-4 |
| 2016 | Miami | 4-3 |
| 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 |
Twitter capture: @Raptors; @the_raptor
photo credit: TNT/NBA
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