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Raptors top Pacers, win first playoff series in 15 years (updated)

Xinhua, May 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Toronto Raptors edged out Indiana Pacers in an 89-84 victory in the seventh and deciding game of their first-round playoff series on Sunday evening NBA action.

The series victory is Toronto's first since a 3-2 first-round victory over New York Knicks in 2001 when the opening round series were five games instead of seven.

This is the second time Toronto have won a playoff series and the first time winning a seven-game series. The franchise had lost their previous seven-game series to Wizards (2015), Nets (2014), Magic (2008), Nets (2007) and Sixers (2001).

"I think everybody wrote us off. I read about how Indiana was going to win and Raptors weren't going to get through this (game and series)," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey following the win in Toronto. "I thought our guys used that as motivation, used it as a fuel to fight, to scrap. That locker room is full of fighters and scrappers and guys that are really getting into it."

During the game, All-Star DeMar DeRozan scrapped and managed to score a game-high 30 points despite shooting 10-for-32 (31 percent) from the field.

"I didn't know he had 32 attempts," said Casey, "He was playing freer. I thought he got his swagger and rhythm back."

DeRozan was a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line, including a pair in the final seconds to put the game out of reach. Prior to the final seconds, Raptors allowed Indiana to make a 15-2 run to cut the lead to three points twice.

Toronto managed to score only 11 points in the final frame, the fewest fourth quarter points by a Game 7 winner since the shot clock was introduced in 1954.

Despite the struggles, Casey is hopeful that DeRozan and All-Star teammate Kyle Lowry will both loosen up in the next round and perform close to their regular season level.

During the seven-games series against Pacers, DeRozan and Lowry averaged 17.9 and 13.9 points per game, compared to 23.5 and 21.2 during the regular season.

"Hopefully they're playing freer, getting the monkey off their back and playing basketball." said Casey. "Hopefully Those two young men, they're not going to forget how to play. Back to playing to their identity."

With the historical series win against Pacers, Toronto will now face no. four seed, Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Game one will take place Tuesday evening in Toronto. Endit