- The Toronto Raptors confidently took Game 1 of the series against the Brooklyn Nets.
- Raptors immediately imposed their pace, trashing the Nets in the first period.
- Fred VanVleet was once again best among the champions.
Furious Start Breaks Down the Nets
The Raptors were pretty convincing in their first playoff step. The champions hammered the Brooklyn Nets, 134-110, posting their seventh win inside the Orlando Bubble, the initial one in the postseason.
“I think there was a very serious group going out on the floor today, the locker room was pretty quiet, they were focused, and I think their play showed that,” said Nick Nurse Toronto’s head coach.
Raptors were locked in right away, and they allowed just 20 points in the first 12 minutes, dropping 37 on the other end, showing the Nets how things stand. They would reach a double-digit difference already during the middle of the period, 18-6, continuing in the same manner.
VanVleet’s Show Agan
Fred VanVleet’s three-pointer, one of eight he scored last night, with 4:42 to go in the second period lifted the champs to 68-35, which was their highest lead throughout the match. VanVleet scored 30 points, had 11 assists, and was superb with shooting, 11-for-15 from the floor, and 8-for-10 for three.
It seems that FVV slowly becomes one of the best two-way guards in the league, which is excellent for him and his future, as he enters free-agency this summer. The Raptors will have to offer him a very high salary, but in return, Nurse gets an excellent player.
“I thought this was the most locked in we’ve been all year,” he said.“It felt like guys were amped up and energized.
The Nets managed to decrease the lead near the end of the third quarter, once they came down to 8 points, 90-82, and that was mostly because of the French international Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.
He ended up with 26 points, hitting six threes in nine attempts, also adding seven boards. Luwawu-Cabarrot spent 33 minutes on the court and was the best player among the Nets who didn’t have the strength to extend their surge and endanger Toronto. Raptors bounced back, and replied ferociously, which is why they won 24 points in the end.
Serge Ibaka did his part very well, coming off the bench and scoring 22 points, adding seven rebounds. Pascal Siakam had 18 points and 11 boards, Kyle Lowry 16 with seven rebounds and six assists, Marc Gasol 12 and five, OG Anunoby 12.
On the opposite side, Joe Harris totaled for 19, Jarrett Allen 15 and 12 boards, the same as Caris LeVert, who was way below his usual scoring productivity. However, with 15 assists and seven rebounds, he was contributing, but not enough to take down the Raptors.
Garrett Temple shot 1-for-10 from downtown and was completely out of the rhythm, and with all these factors, it isn’t odd to see the Nets losing this match.
Overall, Brooklyn was 13-for-42 from behind the arc, while the Raptors shot 50%, 22-for-44. As usual, Toronto’s hits were in the most delicate moments, and in series.
Up next, Game 2 is set for this Thursday,
