Editor's note: The Milwaukee Bucks are sitting out Game 5 in response to the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, WI. The Toronto Raptors have discussed protest for Thursday's game. Stay tuned.
The Toronto Raptors swept the Brooklyn Nets to advance to the second round of the 2020 NBA playoffs. The sweep was the first in the Raptors history. The Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves are now the only NBA teams to not have a playoff sweep.
The Nets were not the best opponent due to a number of key players not in the Orlando bubble.
The Raptors did lose Game 2 in the final 3 series from the 2019 title winning season. Toronto used to be, well, infamous, for losing Game 1 in a NBA playoff series. So a sweep does build momentum.
Game 4 featured the largest number of points (150) in a Raptors playoff game and 100 points off the bench, a NBA record. The bench total became more significant as Kyle Lowry suffered an injury early in Game 4. The injury has been diagnosed as a left ankle sprain for Lowry.
The Raptors take on the Boston Celtics in the second round starting tomorrow. The Celtics swept the Philadelphia 76ers, the team Toronto beat in the second round in 2019. This will be the first time the Raptors and Celtics will face each other in the NBA playoffs. The Raptors went 7-1 in the bubble to finish the season; the team's only loss was to Boston.
Miami will play Milwaukee/Orlando in the other bracket.The Bucks can clinch the next round later this afternoon.
The singer opened the NBA playoffs and honoured Breonna Taylor. https://t.co/ASVjRiYmXU
— etalk (@etalkCTV) August 18, 2020
The NHL spiced up the anthems in the qualifying round with Michael Bublé at centre ice in Vancouver. The Toronto Raptors topped that.
Jessie Reyez sang O Canada while kneeling on the Edgewalk at CN Tower. Chills. The only word to describe that power.
Here's the message each Raptor will wear on their jersey: pic.twitter.com/zD3SalYCeF
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) July 24, 2020
The NBA has stepped up on its commitment to diversity. A lot of the NBA players wore Black Lives Matter on the back of their uniforms. Kyle Lowry has "Education Reform," another great topic. Good for Serge Ibaka for the French take "Respectez Biso."
Toronto Raptors wrap up the 2020 NBA regular season in Orlando
New video released last week showed what we pretty much knew: Alameda County sheriff’s deputy Alan Strickland was the aggressor against Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri, The video shows Strickland pushing Ujiri twice in the chest after Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Oakland in 2019.
The video shows Ujiri reaching for his credentials before the shoving starts.
Turns out Strickland's mendacity record is longer than first realised.
Golden State Warriors COO and President Rick Welts apologised. "While we had no role in hiring or managing security at our old arena, it happened at a Warriors game and for that I apologize. You rose above it which doesn’t surprise me or anyone who knows you. Now… go make some noise in the bubble!"
Game 6 in Oakland was the last Golden State game in the East Bay. The team moved to San Francisco last fall. San Francisco is in San Francisco County, so Alameda County officials wouldn't be used.
2020 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs scoreboard
Nick Nurse won the NBA Coach of the Year honours. The Toronto Raptors had a better winning percentage than in 2018-2019. Nurse earned 90 first-place votes from a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. The Toronto coach finished with 470 points. Milwaukee Coach Mike Budenholzer, who won the award last season, finished second with 147 points.
2020 Toronto Raptors NBA playoffs preview
CanadianCrossing.com NBA coverage
Rogers Sportsnet potentially had 4 games in the first round vs. 3 for TSN. Both outlets got 2 games in the 4-game sweep. TSN will have the advantage in the second round. U.S. viewers should get more Raptors games on ESPN and TNT as opposed to NBA TV. Check out our NBA playoffs scoreboard for updates.
Toronto Raptors playoffs history
| 2020 | Boston | 0-0 |
| 2020 | Brooklyn | 4-0 |
| 2019 | Golden State | 4-2 |
| 2019 | Milwaukee | 4-2 |
| 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 |
photo credit: NBA.com
Twitter captures: @etalkCTV; @BlakeMurphyODC
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