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Tim BontempsESPN
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – Commanding a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against Boston Celtics defending champions Toronto Raptors was 0.5 seconds away.
But Raptors forward OG Anunobi was relieved to see a spectacular market-beating 3-pointer that saved Toronto from a 104-103 defeat, Celtics forward Jalen Brown did not try to hide his reluctance to let the Raptors survive – and as a result remain in the series. .
“It was just an f — insult at the end of the game,” Brown said.
“Either way we shouldn’t lose that game. I take responsibility for it. Not just that play, but a lot of plays before. And it happens. These are NBA playoffs. Either you let them gain momentum or you come back and Get ready to play the next game. “
The Celtics seemed to make up for the loss to Toronto defending its title, as Kemba Waker played a ridiculous game to get into the double-team, enter the lane and throw a no-look bounce pass by ramparts guard Fred Wenwalit and center Mark Gasol. Daniel Thiss with 0.5 seconds left to give the Celtics a 103-101 lead.
But Toronto tried to get the ball inside – with foot-hack support, pressing the winger, defending an inbound pass against Kyle Lowry listed on feet – a mismatch between Jason Tatum and Brown. While Anunobi ran along the baseline at the opposite corner of the basket.
Tatum thought he had warned Brown to stay with Anunobi and wound up going into a double-team vanilla. Brown, meanwhile, had been with the gasoline in the paint for so long that Lori’s pass was heading towards everyone Anunobi, who was sitting in the corner waiting to arrive, had to try to fly to save him.
But the ball only managed to get there after leaving Anunobi’s hand – leaving him, and the rest of the Celtics, helpless to do anything, watched the shot fall from the net as soon as the bazaar was heard. The Boston players threw their hands in the air in disgust while the Toronto players did the same in celebration of defending their season.
“Just an anomaly [of] The coverage we had, Brown said, “That’s really all. They did a remarkable play in the end. [Anunoby] Snack along the baseline, and we’ll just communicate better, that’s all. As a unit, it cannot happen. We matched up, and OG jumped in with the baseline, didn’t recognize him as soon as possible and got a huge look.
“We should be better than him. We better communicate. I was four years old, I’m better. Can’t give up 3 runs at the end of the game. … He made a remarkable shot, but still.
“It’s an F — iting. It’s horrible. There’s no excuse for it. It was ridiculous at all. I can’t get your feet out of the gas. We’ll play the game. We’ll be ready to play.”
After Bost landed Toronto in Game 1, the last two games were played as most expected before the series began, with the NBA’s two best defensive teams knocking out last-minute games.
In Game 2, it was Walker who hit the biggest shot of the game in the final two minutes to seal the win. In Game 3, it was Vaker Kar who made this the absurd pass mostly to do so.
“It was a great play,” Brown said. “He did his job, he drew two and found an open man. He put us two. It was a big play for us.
“Five points on the clock. We need one stop to win the F — IG game.”
But the Celtics didn’t get that stop. And, in that half-second, they saw an opportunity to take control of the series, and the defending champion was given a new lease on life.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said, “I mean they are a really good team against which we are playing.” “They’re tough, they’re smart, they put you on your heels. But I think our people are really competing, really fighting.
“Both teams gave it all up in a great game tonight. It hurts and he loses, but we’ll just go back to that and get ready for Saturday.”
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