NBA playoffs

Defending NBA champion Raptors claw out victory over Nets

Agence France-Presse

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Defending NBA champion Raptors claw out victory over Nets
The Raptors take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round clash

Toronto reserve Norman Powell scored 12 of his 24 points in the final quarter as the defending champion Raptors rallied to beat Brooklyn, 104-99, in their NBA playoff series on Wednesday, August 19 (Thursday, August 20, Philippine time) 

The Raptors took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round clash, being played in the league’s quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida.

The Raptors, who had converted 22 three-pointers in a Game 1 blowout of the Nets, connected on just 25.7% of their three-point attempts – and 43.7% of shots overall – under heavy defensive pressure from a Nets team eager to even the series.

But turnovers proved crucial, with 9 Toronto giveaways leading to 6 Nets points while 17 Brooklyn turnovers resulted in 23 points for the Raptors.

Brooklyn, trailing by 3 with 15 seconds remaining, had a chance to force overtime but an ill-timed pass on their final possession led to a final, decisive turnover – forced by Toronto’s Kyle Lowry – that sealed the win for the Raptors.

“We’ve been here before,” said Toronto’s Fred VanVleet, who delivered a double-double of 24 points and 10 assists. “You’ve just got to stick with it, weather the storm.”

Trailing 80-74 through 3 quarters, the Raptors opened the 4th on a 17-5 scoring run, taking their first lead since the second period on OG Anunoby’s dunk with 9 minutes to play.

Staying present

Powell extended the lead to 8 points with a driving dunk, and the Raptors held on.

“It’s just about focusing on what we’ve got to do, staying present, staying within yourself, and staying confident in your abilities and taking what the game has given you,” Powell said.

Lowry finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds and Pascal Siakam added 19 points for the Raptors, who will try to take a 3-0 lead on Friday.

The Nets’ hopes of battling back could be hindered by the departure from Orlando of Joe Harris, who scored 14 points with 15 rebounds before leaving the campus for what the team called a “personal matter.”

Quarantine rules mean Harris will miss at least Games 3 and 4 of the series. – Rappler.com

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