The defending champions, Toronto Raptors started their quest to successfully defend their title with a comprehensive victory over Brooklyn Nets in their first NBA playoffs game on Monday.
Raptors took a 1-0 lead in the series, beating Nets by 24pts, having outscored the latter in three of the four quarters to win convincingly by 134-120.
Cameroon’s Pascal Siakam came clutch again for the Raptors with a double-double, hitting 18pts and 11reb, and also making an assist in the game.
Siakam was one of the players rested in their last game against Denver Nuggets on Friday, and it looked to have paid off, with the Power Forward coming into the game very fresh.
Another rested player was Ogugua OG Anunoby, and the Small Forward had an impressive game for Raptors. Anunoby contributed 12pts for his team, and also made 5reb in the game.
Anunoby attempted five outside shots, finding the rim 3 times to amount to a 60% conversion rate. He also had two important blocks in the game for Raptors.
Meanwhile, Congolese-Spanish player Serge Ibaka was quite outstanding for Raptors, making 22pts, 7reb and 3ast, with the Canadian side never being troubled to take a 1-0 lead over the Nets.
Before the game, Raptors toed the path of Phoenix Suns in getting a recorded intro from family members to announce the starting five for the game, and going by the kind of excitement it elicited from the players, the team looks to be in great harmony as they attempt to win another NBA title.
