Five key moments in the season that was
The Raptors’ 21st NBA season was by far their best one yet. When you win 56 games and make a deep playoff run for the first time, a look back at the season will produce far more highs than lows.
Here are five moments that jumped out for us:
1. 11-game win streak
The Raptors began to really come into form in January with a franchiserecord 11-game win streak that stretched from Jan. 6 through the entire month, ending with a Feb. 1 loss on the road to the Denver Nuggets. The Denver loss was a painful one because the Raptors were a win away from setting a pro sports record in Toronto for a win streak.
2. All-Star hosts
In bringing the all-star game to Toronto in February, the NBA took the game outside of the United States for the first time. DeRozan and Lowry represented the Raptors and the Eastern Conference and the West won a defence-free 196-173 contest. The real fun was on all-star Saturday night, where Orlando’s Aaron Gordon and Minnesota’s Zack LaVine gave fans what might be the best dunk contest the weekend has ever produced. LaVine won in extra rounds.
3. Lowry beats the Cavs
Many people, burnt by the Raptors’ painfully unreliable history, were hesitant to say on Feb. 28 when the Cavaliers came to Toronto that this could be a playoff preview. Lowry and the Raptors gave their fans a reason to believe that night, with a careerbest 43-point night that included a deep three-pointer that gave the Raptors the win.
4. The 56th win
The cast for the Raptors that night was forgettable. Bruno Caboclo got his first-ever start, while Lowry, DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas stayed in Toronto to prep for the playoffs, which were just days away. With a ragtag starting lineup, the Raptors were still able to win their fourth in a row and downed the Brooklyn Nets 103-96, giving them a franchise-best 56th win of the season. The previous record for wins was 49, set a year earlier.
5. Introducing the Cavs to defeat
Despite all of their regular-season success, finishing just a game behind the Cavs in the East standings, the Raptors were instantly written off to be swept in the East final. In the first two games of the series — both Cleveland blowouts — it appeared to be headed in that direction. When the series shifted to Toronto, the Raptors came to life. DeRozan had 32 points, Lowry had 20 and Bismack Biyombo pulled in a career-best 26 rebounds in Game 3, handing the Cavs their first loss of the playoffs.