Game Blog: Lowry has a sublime night as the Raptors even have a streak with the Celtics

The Raptors are now fully back in their NBA playoff series with the Boston Celtics.

Kyle Lowry had another sublime game – 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists during the entire second half – when Toronto recorded a 100-93 win on Saturday even in the best of seven series at 2-2.

Race 5 is Monday and Race 6 is Wednesday evening.

Knowing it would be incredibly difficult to return from 3-1 to a team as talented as Boston, the Raptors played their best all-round game of the series.

Serge Ibaka provided a spark off the bench with 18 points for the Raptors while Pascal Siakam may have tried too many three-pointers for some (he was 2 of 13 from over the arc) but finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Jayson Tatum had 24 points for Boston, but the Celtics were only 7 of 35 three-pointers.

–

Presenting their best first half of the series, the Raptors drew 49-49 against the Boston Celtics in the mid-game break of Game 4 of their NBA playoff series on Saturday night.

With Kyle Lowry setting the tone with 11 points in the first 4 1/2 minutes, the Raptors continued their strong play from the second half of the win in Game 3.

Pascal Siakam struggled, however, only going 4 for 11 from the field in 22 minutes, but Boston’s main offensive threat, Jayson Tatum, was almost as quiet, with just 10 points.

Eight of Siakam’s field goal attempts were three-pointers and he only made one. The three times he got to the basket, he scored.

Serge Ibaka came off the bench to give Toronto a spark with 11 points in his first 9:39.

–

Secrets and strategic twists are disappearing as the Raptors and the Boston Celtics delve deeper into their NBA playoff series and it’s at the point where execution matters most.

The Raptors will be playing some zone defense in Game 4 tonight, the Celtics will know it’s coming and they will be ready for it.

The Celtics will go heavily against striker Jayson Tatum and the Raptors are keenly aware of his emerging passing skills.

It is at the point where the winner will do what he does best.

“Obviously we will see some area,” Boston manager Brad Stevens said about 90 minutes before the tip. “They played a little 2-3 previously, and then it’s finished now around 2-1-2, some triangles the last game. We did a good job against a couple of them. We have to do a better job if we see him again. tonight “.

For Raptors manager Nick Nurse, the familiar feeling extends primarily to how his team is playing. Specifically how the Raptors played in the latter stages of their Game 3 victory.

“You should understand things as you play a team over and over again, right? I think it’s natural for that to happen in a series. “He said.” But I think, more importantly, we’re just playing better. I mean, I still think, you know, when we get out of a game and say ‘man we played. well ‘you go up and down the line and everybody contributes and everybody plays at least average if not above average or really good or whatever and we haven’t had a lot yet, when we came out of a game and said’ he was good, he was good, he was good ‘, you know all the way but we’re getting there, hopefully, it looks like we’re getting there and hopefully we’re only playing better. “

–

The Raptors may be a little more excited when they face the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of their NBA playoff series this evening.

This is what will do for you a resounding victory in Game 3.

“To be able to get a win like that and give us a chance to go out and get at least two more games … I know it’s really great for us,” said Norm Powell. “The guys are excited, there is more energy, more momentum and more optimism, more energy.”

It remains to be seen what Race 4 actually translates into, but OG Anunoby buzzing to win Game 3 saved Toronto’s season.

They are still 2-1 behind in the Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal, but it’s not as monumental a task as a 3-0 would have been. Never once in 139 series where a team took a 3-0 lead have they ended up losing the series.

There are no line-up changes for either team for the start of 6:30 PM ET.

Game 5 is Monday at 6:30 am with Game 6, if necessary, scheduled for Wednesday.

The Celtics were philosophical about heartbreaking loss.

“We also have to realize that (Kyle) Lowry made a perfect pass on a 7-foot-6 guy (Boston’s Tacko Fall) all over the court, and a guy caught him with 0.4 seconds and shot him, “coach of Celtics Brad Stevens said Friday. “Obviously we weren’t on him about catching, but a lot of good things had to happen – that they had to do – to make that move. So the other thing I don’t want to do under any circumstances is take away the credit. to the opponent, because they’re out there too, and that’s a hell of a team. “