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Kyle Lowry's game has never been about raw talent. The Toronto Raptors star has made a stellar career out of supplementing his solid but unspectacular physical gifts and skill level with effort, instincts, and an overall will to win that only so many players in the league can match. And unfortunately for the Orlando Magic, that enviable attribute was on display at the worst possible time on Thursday night.
After the Magic used a furious late fourth-quarter run to make it a one-possession game with the clock ticking below 30 seconds, Kawhi Leonard isolated on Aaron Gordon, got to his spot, and let fly. His jumper came up short, seemingly giving Orlando an opportunity to tie the game. Instead, the ball caromed off the underside of the rim back toward the direction of Leonard, Aaron Gordon, and D.J. Augustin. It was Lowry, though, who came from behind the action to secure the offensive rebound and send the Raptors to victory.
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Other than Pascal Siakam, who had 30 points and 11 rebounds on 13-of-20 shooting, no one for Toronto played all that well at the first playoff game hosted at Amway Center since 2012. But Kyle Lowry found ways to contribute regardless, scoring 12 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out a game-high 10 assists. It was his offensive rebound as the game suddenly hung in the balance, though, that was the biggest play in the Raptors' 98-93 victory.
Toronto, after losing Game 1 at Scotia Bank Arena, now leads Orlando 2-1 in the teams' first-round series. Game 4 is on Sunday.
