What's up basketball fans! I am here again @dwin0603 to give you another exciting basketball discussion for another episode of NBA Talk, and today we will have a short recap of the match between the Orlando Magic VS the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs. Let's start!
The number 7 Orlando Magic upset the number 2 seed Toronto Raptors in a 104-101 victory on the road to have a commanding lead of 1-0 in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday night!
Game Recap
Everybody expected this as an easy series for the Raptors and everyone is expecting the Raptors to sweep the Magic but the Magic stunned everybody and take home game 1. Kawhi Leonard seemed hungry in the first quarter after not seeing playoff action for a long time as he made two early jumpers and buried a three-pointer to take an early lead for the Raptors. But on the other hand, DJ Augustin was like an all-star putting buckets against the Raptors. Toronto's bench keeps the pace forward but Orlando doesn't want to be in a deep deficit as they continue to just score and play good defense to keep the game close.
In the second period, the Orlando Magic got their first lead of the night. The most improved player candidate Pascal Siakam did a great job offensively from the inside but the Magic continued hitting their outside shots led by DJ Augustin. Orlando took a double-digit lead in the 2nd period leading as much as 16 points.
Kawhi started the third quarter with a sweet jump shot to stop the bleeding. With good defense and consistent scoring, the Raptors managed to cut the deficit back single digit and cut it to just 1 with Kawhi's three-pointer with under 9 minutes in the quarter. Danny Green catches fires as he hits consecutive jumpers from the outside. Both teams continued to put buckets against each other as the game remains close at the end of the third quarter.
Kawhi has been quite in the middle up to the end of the third quarter and Kyle Lowry struggles offensively all game long. He struggles at a time like this when the team needed him most to show up and be the leader. Siakam continued to get some buckets for Toronto while the whole team can't shoot while Michael Carter-Williams surprisingly hits key baskets to keep the game close and not let the Raptors take momentum. At the six-minute mark of the Final quarter, Siakam made a running floater to take a 6 point lead after an 8-0 run, but Vucevic and Aaron Gordons both hit a three to tie the game at 92 with 4 minutes remaining.
With 2 minutes remaining, Toronto up 2, Jonathan Isaac hits a corner three to take the lead. Then, Evan Fournier stole the ball and lays up a transition basket to make it a 3 point game. Then, it was the time that Toronto needed a hero and Kawhi did not let them down as he hits a three to tie the game with 1:35 remaining in the game. Orlando can't get a basket in the next possession and Kawhi Leonard hits a fadeaway dagger to take a 2 point lead with 1 minute left in the game.
As the game reached its climax, one player named DJ Augustin takes responsibility driving to the lane and finishing a tough layup to tie the game. The Raptors wasn't able to make a basket in the next possession so the Magic had the chance to take the game. And as the clock winding down, all, eyes are on the ball, DJ dribbling the clock out, with the courage to take full responsibility, Augustin takes the three-pointer at the top of the key and hit it as Orlando win the Game 104-101.
My Thoughts
Orlando's defense that results into buckets was the key in the final minutes of the Game. Toronto missed too many threes shooting 12 for 36 from the outside. Kyle Lowry does it again. He choked again and it looks like a curse. Even without facing LeBron James, Kyle Lowry played awful again with 0 points! Man, it doesn't seem good for Lowry and the Raptors if he continues to perform like this. Toronto needs its leader and Lowry needs to step up. If he underperforms again in the next games, I don't think the Raptors will make it to the finals even if they beat the Magic in the first round. Game 2 is on Tuesday night, in Toronto.
Stats
DJ Augustin - 25 pts, 2 reb, 6 ast
Evan Fournier - 16 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast
Nikola Vucevic - 11 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast
Kawhi Leonard - 25 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast
Pascal Siakam - 24 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 2 blk
That is all for today folks! How's the playoffs opener for you? What are your thoughts? Let me hear your opinions about this article so drop your comments now and let's have some basketball talk! :)
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