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Andrew LopezESPN
For the first time in franchise history, the Toronto Raptors swept a playoff series. Now, for the first time in franchise history, the Raptors are preparing for a series against the Boston Celtics.
Both teams finished on Sunday, with Boston defeating Philadelphia and the Raptors down the Brooklyn Nets. But the Raptors did so in record-breaking fashion as well.
With Kyle Lowry just nine minutes to play due to an injured left foot and starting guard Fred VanVleet struggling with fierce trouble, the Raptors’ bench pushed through with an NBA record of 100 points to lead Toronto to a 150-122 victory.
According to research by Elias Sports Bureau, the 100 bench points are the most by any team in a regular season as a playoff game since starters were followed in the 1970-71 season. The Raptors’ 150 points also marked the most they had ever had in a playoff game.
But setting up new accounts was not something for the Toronto postgame. It was all about the victory itself.
“It’s cool, I think. My main focus is winning,” said Raptors guard Norman Powell, who led the team with 29 points from the bench. “No matter how we do it, by 30 as a point. I just love winning. It’s a cool little record to have. But I will not harp it or think about it. Through to the next.”
According to ESPN Stats & Information Research, Powell and Serge Ibaka, who had 27 points and 15 handballs in 19:50, became the second pair of teammates since 1970-71 to have 25 points each from the bench in a playoff game, who joined Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams, who did that last season for the LA Clippers.
Ibaka also became the first player in playoff history to have at least 25 points and 15 rebounds in a playoff game, while playing less than 20 minutes.
Toronto went 1-3 this season against the Celtics, but played them at three different points throughout the year – on the second night of the season, twice in a span of four days, starting Christmas Day, and again in the bubble, which was a 22-point victory in Boston. It is also the only loss Toronto has suffered since restarting the season.
“They are a great team and they are currently playing some of the best basketball,” Ibaka said. “We have confidence against them, and we know it will not be easy. We have to come to play our best basketball against them.”
Ibaka said he saw one Celtics game in the bubble and said they were flying something under the radar.
“They don’t get a lot of conversation, but they are a great team,” Ibaka said. “If someone comes in, they play hard, then they play as a team, they have a good bench. We have to come in to play basketball, man.”
The NBA said the series will begin Thursday, giving both teams some rest for the matchup – something Raptors coach Nick Nurse said he looked out for.
“Well, we could certainly use a little rest, these games are coming really fast,” Nurse said. “That was a fast first round for both teams. A lot faster than normal. That first round normally goes so slowly.”
The rest will also give Toronto a chance to possibly have Lowry ready for Game 1. Nurse said Lowry got an MRI done on the arch of his left foot after Sunday’s game.
Nurse has used a shorter rotation in the playoffs and played his starters along with Ibaka and Powell the most, typically turning every night into a separate eighth man – whether that was Chris Boucher, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Matt Thomas or Terence Davis.
Keeping those guys fresh is another reason the bench could go for 100 points against Brooklyn, but managing minutes is what Nurse should see in the rest of the playoffs.
“I run a pretty short rotation here, as you know,” Nurse said. “Those guys, we know it all, from Chris to Rondae to Matt and Terence, of course Serge and Norm … the seven guys I want to play want to play more. It’s hard to manage it all sometimes.”
While Toronto is hoping it will have Lowry for the series, Boston will be without forward Gordon Hayward as he recovers his single tension. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Sunday that Hayward returned to Boston to begin his rehab.
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