Playoffs Day 21 And Toronto Forces Game 7! 9.9.20
It’s Day 21 of the NBA Playoffs and we have two games today, ft. Game 6 between the Raptors and Celtics.
It’s Day 21 of the NBA Playoffs and we have two games today, ft. Game 6 between the Raptors and Celtics.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors won Game 6 against the Celtics. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After falling behind 3-2 in this series, the Raptors needed a win in order to keep their series alive. They would need to tough out a win against a very good Boston team. And what a game it was. The Raptors trailed by 4 at halftime as Kyle Lowry tried to keep the Raptors in the game, but they still trailed. But the Raptors had 33 points in a 3rd and they led by 4 entering the 4th quarter. And the 4th quarter would get wild. The Raptors led 88-80, but the Celtics hit 3 straight 3-pointers to take a 89-88 lead with 8:22 left. Anunoby scored with 4:24 left to give the Raptors a 98-94 lead. That was the last time they scored in the 4th. The Celtics tied the game and after a Siakam miss at the buzzer, the game was headed to OT. And things looked bad for the Raptors as they trailed 104-101 with 2:26 left. But the Raptors had the ball with the game tied at 106. They gave the ball to Norman Powell, and he missed at the buzzer. To double OT we went. In double OT, the Celtics led 110-106 and the Raptors would need another comeback. They would get one. Lowry and Powell scored to tie the game. Pascal Siakam tied the game at 112 with 1:55 left. The Raptors hit back-to-back 3’s to give themselves a 118-117 lead. A Norman Powell and-one gave them a 121-117 lead. Tatum scored, but Lowry answered with 11.7 seconds left to give the Raptors a 123-119 lead. But Tatum hit another 3 to cut the lead to one. Norman Powell hit 2/2 free throws to give the Raptors a 125-122 lead. Marcus Smart missed the 3, and the Raptors won Game 6. The series is tied 3-3 and Game 7 on Friday would decide the game.
Offensively the Raptors were solid as they shot 44% from the field and 40% from 3. Toronto was also 18/25 from the free throw line. The Raptors had 12 turnovers. The Raptors had 36 points down low.
Defensively the Raptors were sub-par as Boston shot 44% from the field and and 40% from 3. The Raptors allowed 14 offensive rebounds. The Raptors forced 15 offensive rebounds. Toronto also allowed 44 points down low.
Kyle Lowry had 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Norman Powell had 23 points off the bench. Fred VanVleet had 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. OG Anunoby had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Serge Ibaka had 13 points off the bench. Pascal Siakam had 12 points.
Conclusion
The Raptors gutted out a win as they needed to. Lowry played 53 minutes and was amazing as he hit big shot after big shot. Norman Powell had big off the bench as he picked up the slack for a struggling Siakam. The Raptors did what they needed to do as they extend the series to a 7th and final game for all the marbles. Lets see if the defending champs can pull off the comeback.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics lost Game 6 against the Raptors. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After a dominating Game 5, the Celtics looked to finish the series in Game 6. The Celtics have been very good in this series and have made it tough on the Raptors. The Celtics didn’t want to send the series to a Game 7. But they would have to work. Jaylen Brown was great in the 1st half as they led by 4 at halftime. But they had a letdown in the 3rd as they allowed 33 points. They now trailed by 4 entering the 4th. But the Celtics took a 89-88 lead over 8 minutes left in the 4th. But after trailed 98-94 with 4:24 left, the Celtics didn’t allow any more Raptors points. Daniel Theis scored the last 4 for Boston and the game went into OT after Siakam missed at the buzzer. In OT, the Celtics led 104-101 with 2:26 left, but Norman Powell tied the game right back. Jaylen Brown tied the game at 106 with 2/2 free throws. The Raptors had the final possession, and Norman Powell missed at the buzzer. So we headed to a 2nd OT. And the Celtics took a 110-106 lead to start. But the Raptors tied it up with 2:33 left. Marcus Smart hit a 3 to give Boston a 115-112 lead, but the Raptors tied it right back with 1:23 left. OG Anunoby hit a 3 with 57.5 seconds left to give Toronto a 118-117 lead. Norman Powell gave the Raptors a 4-point lead and it seemed over for Boston. Jayson Tatum scored, but Lowry answered with 11.7 seconds left to hold the lead at 4. Tatum hit a 3, but after 2/2 free throws, the Raptors hung on to win 125-122. The series is tied 3-3 and Game 7 will decide the series.
Offensively the Celtics were good as as they shot 44% from the field and 40% from 3. Boston was also 15/18 from the free throw line. The Celtics had 14 offensive rebounds. Boston turned it over 15 turnovers. The Celtics had 44 points down low.
Defensively the Celtics were sub-par as the Raptors shot 44% from the field and 40% from 3. Toronto was also 18/25 from the free throw line. The Celtics forced 12 turnovers. Boston also allowed 36 points down low.
Jaylen Brown had 32 points and 15 rebounds. Jayson Tatum had 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists. Marcus Smart had 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Daniel Theis added 18 points and 7 rebounds.
Conclusion
The Celtics lost a tough game as their defense couldn’t stop the Raptors. They stopped Siakam, but Lowry, VanVleet, and Powell torched them. Tatum and Brown were solid, Smart and Theis were also great, but Kemba Walker was the reason they lost. He had just 5 points and in 52 minutes as he couldn’t get anything going. He will need to be better for the Celtics to win Game 7. The Celtics have been competitive in every single game in this series, but Game 7 will be another test. Lets see how they respond.
LA Clippers
The Clippers won Game 4 against the Nuggets. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After a Game 3 victory, the Clippers led 2-1 in the series and looked to end it with a Game 4 win. The Clippers needed great defense and a daily dose of Kawhi Leonard to succeed. All of the above happened. The Clippers held the Nuggets to just 12 points in the 1st quarter, and they never looked back. As the game went into a slower, defensive mindset, the Clippers held their double-digit lead throughout the 2nd half and cruised to a 96-85 victory. The Clippers lead 3-1 in the series.
Offensively the Clippers were ok as they shot 42% from the field and 29% from 3. LA was also 22/30 from the foul line. The Clippers had 9 turnovers. The Clippers also had 40 points in the paint.
Defensively the Clippers were good as Denver shot 40% from the field and 33% from 3. Denver was also 22/26 from the free throw line. The Clippers forced 15 turnovers. The Clippers also allowed just 24 points down low.
Kawhi Leonard had 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. Montrezl Harrell had 15 points off the bench. Lou Williams had 12 points off the bench. Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris, and Paul George were all in double-figures as well.
Conclusion
The Clippers won this game with their defense. They allowed just 12 points in the 1st quarter and never allowed the Nuggets to get any life. They never let Jamal Murray get going, and the Clippers didn’t need much offense to win. Kawhi was… Kawhi. Harrell and Williams were solid off the bench, although Williams was very inefficient. George had foul-trouble and never got going. But the Clippers defense won them this game, giving them a 3-1 series lead. Expect more of the same in Game 5 as the Clippers look to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets lost Game 4 against the Clippers. Here is what I thought about their performance.
After losing Game 3, the Nuggets needed a win in order to stay alive in the series. They would need more from Jamal Murray in order to win, and their defense would also have to be solid. None of the above happened. The Nuggets scored just 12 points in the 1st quarter and they never got back into the game. Jamal Murray was quiet once again and the Nuggets never picked up their scoring pace. They played pretty good defense on everybody not named Kawhi Leonard. The Nuggets lost 96-85 and now trail 3-1 in this series.
Offensively the Nuggets were ok as they shot 40% from the field and 33% from 3. Denver was also 22/26 from the free throw line. The Nuggets had 15 turnovers. The Nuggets had just 24 points in the paint.
Defensively the Nuggets were solid as LA shot 42% from the field and 29% from 3. LA was also 22/30 from the foul line. The Nuggets forced 9 turnovers. The Nuggets allowed 40 points down low.
Nikola Jokic had 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. Jamal Murray had 18 points and 7 assists. Michael Porter Jr. had 15 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. Gary Harris added 10 points.
Conclusion
The Nuggets looked very uninspiring as they came out of the gates slow and never recovered. “Super-star” Jamal Murray was held in check again, and without his explosive scoring, the Nuggets struggled. The Nuggets not named Nikola Jokic have struggled in this series and the Nuggets will likely fall in 5 games. While this was expected by (me), their performance do seem a little disappointing. Onto the next season I suppose for the Nuggets.
What Are Your Thoughts From Day 21 of the Playoffs? Leave A Comment Down Below!
My Thoughts On Some Topics From Day 21 Will Be Posted Tomorrow, So Stay Tuned!
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