VanVleet nullifies Nets in Raptors’ playoff opener
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — It was an NBA playoff night unlike any other in history — but a familiar result for the Toronto Raptors.
Spurred on by a stirring rendition of O Canada sung atop Toronto’s iconwwic CN Tower, and then introduced via video by their own family members, the NBA defending champions beat the Brooklyn Nets 134-110 in the opening game of their firstround playoff series Monday.
Fred VanVleet had eight three-pointers as part of a playoff career-high 30 points, and the Raptors connected on 22 from deep, matching a season high and setting a franchise playoff record.
“Stating the obvious, [VanVleet] was awesome tonight for sure,” coach Nick Nurse said.
Seven Raptors scored in double figures. Serge Ibaka had 22 points off the bench, while Pascal Siakam added 18 points, Kyle Lowry had 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists, Marc
Gasol finished with 13 points, OG Anunoby chipped in with 12, and Terence Davis had 11.
The NBA’s unprecedented restart comes after a four-month hiatus due to COVID-19. While the Raptors would have played this game in Toronto in front of a raucous home crowd, the only fans in attendance Monday at Walt Disney World were virtual. The 300 fan faces on the 17-foothigh video boards conjured images of a giant video game.
Still, the night got off to an emotional start. Both teams knelt with locked arms as Juno Award-winning Toronto singer Jessie Reyez performed a goosebump-enducing rendition of the national anthem while kneeling on the CN Tower’s outdoor EdgeWalk.
“Man, it was awesome. Caught me by surprise,” Nurse said. “I thought the camera and the shots of Toronto and all that stuff … kind of took your breath away a little bit.”
Then Raptors’ family members introduced the team’s starters via video. Lowry’s young sons Karter and Kameron introduced their dad with an energetic: “From North Philly to your city, No. 7, Kyle luh-luhluh-luh-Lowry!”
“It touched a lot of guys’ hearts, I know guys were like ‘Holy crap,’ and they wanted to kind of cry and they wanted to smile at the same time,” Lowry said with a laugh. “That right there shows who we play for… It’s just a proud moment for us.”