Photo: Frank Gunn
The playoff atmosphere in Toronto was lit for most of the day, that was until the final buzzer sounded. But even then, the team gave the Raptors a standing ovation as they walked off the floor in their 104-103 Game 7 loss at home to the Brooklyn Nets.
Even though Paul Pierce could not find the range and was plagued by foul trouble, he managed to come through when it counted most. And it was from the most unexpected of scenarios. Not a clutch three, but rather on defense with a blocked shot.
As Kyle Lowry drove the lane to be the hero with time ticking down in the 4th quarter, he was met with Pierce’s hand, successfully blocking his floater and eliminating Toronto out of the playoffs. Up to that point, the Raptors trailed for most of the game and had foul trouble of their own, especially from Amir Johnson, who was a beast in the first half but managed to only score 2 points in the entire second.
The final minute was by far the craziest of the whole game. Both Lowry and Terrence Ross scored quick buckets to bring the Toronto within one after the Deron Williams missed free throw, then Ross showed up on defense with 10 seconds left, making a leaping play to deflect the ball off Paul Pierce’s leg. On the ensuing out of bounds, the ball was in Lowry’s hands but he came up short like Carlton Banks.
Lowry ended the game with 28 points and 7 rebounds, while teammate Amir Johnson finished with a double double, 20 points and 10 rebounds. On the Nets side of things, Joe Johnson ended the game with 26 points, while Deron Williams with 13.
The look of heartbreak.
And that’s all she wrote for the We The North campaign this season. Welcome to the offseason, Raptors. It was a good fight. Next year, come back stronger.
The Nets now face the Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs.