The Toronto Raptors found themselves with their backs to the wall on Wednesday night in a win-or-go-home Game 6 against the Boston Celtics, and it took a two overtime thriller to decide that the team from up north would have one more shot to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In a tight, back-and-forth contest in the Orlando bubble, the Raptors willed themselves to a 125-122 victory that forces a Game 7 contest on Friday night to decide which team will advance to face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Toronto overcame several deficits, including a first half that saw them trail for all but a couple of minutes and a second overtime which saw them behind in the final minute, to grind out a victory to keep their season alive.
Despite trailing 117-115 in the final minute of the game, an OG Anunoby three-pointer and a Norman Powell mid-range jumper gave them a three-point lead that they would not relinquish.
A Jayson Tatum three-pointer cut the team’s lead to only one with 6.2 seconds left in the game, but Norman Powell’s two clutch free throws meant that the Celtics would need to hit a buzzer-beating three pointer to tie the game and send it to a third overtime. Marcus Smart missed, however, meaning that the series will move to a decisive Game 7.
Kyle Lowry led the Raptors in points with 33, and Powell’s 22 points off the bench were key in keeping their team alive.
Game 7 is set to be played on Friday night at 9:00 pm Eastern time.
