Written by Tim Cato at SBNation.com
After 15 years and two exasperating first round losses, the Toronto Raptors are headed to the second round with a 89-84 win against the Indiana Pacers in the must-have Game 7 on Sunday.
It wasn’t easy. The Raptors started the fourth quarter up 78-64 but watched their lead slowly leak away as the Pacers refused to die. A few minutes into the quarter, Toronto devolved into a clock-killing facade of the offense that had allowed them to build a double-digit lead. By wasting clock and not beginning their offense until the final stages of the shot clock, Toronto ended up with terrible looks that they had no chance of making.
The Pacers wouldn’t die, either. Indiana went on a 17-4 run to draw within three points with just seconds left in the game, even after a potential three-point play with 3:50 left in the game from Paul George was questionably called an offensive foul. Down three with seconds left, George’s errant pass trying to find Ian Mahinmi underneath the basket ended all reasonable chance for Indiana to come back, despite their efforts getting back in the game.
DeMar DeRozan gave Toronto the quick start they needed, scoring nine early points as both teams shook off the nerves that come along with every Game 7. The two teams bounced back and forth throughout the opening half, but the leads never advanced past a few points either way. By halftime, the Raptors led 50-44, but the game still felt very much in hand for either team.
But Toronto pulled away with what looked to be the decisive third quarter, watching DeRozan come alive in the quarter and seeing a couple huge shots from DeMarre Carroll go in, despite a scoreless first half. Although the Raptors’ fourth quarter made things difficult, the fourth quarter was enough for Toronto to limp into the finish line and just barely skate home by with a series win.
Finally in the second round, Toronto’s series will be played against the Miami Heat, who finished off Charlotte earlier Sunday.
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