Game 1 didn't go as planned for the Toronto Raptors. The Eastern Conference's second-best team was upset by the seventh-seed Orlando Magic, losing 104-101 at home.
But the Raptors aren't about to let that happen again. Head coach Nick Nurse thinks his team is ready to give Game 2 whatever it takes. Via Magic beat writer John Denton on Twitter:
.@Raptors coach Nick Nurse: “I think 1-0 or 0-1, whatever it would be, you try to throw everything at (the @OrlandoMagic ) to try & win the game. At this point, you do whatever you need to do whether it’s 3-0 or 0-2 … these games are all played to be won b/c they count a lot.”
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 16, 2019
While Nurse insists the team's record going into Tuesday's game doesn't matter, it's clear that the Game 1 loss is extra motivation for the Raptors. They can't head to Orlando down two games to none, making Game 2 a must-win.
Saturday's game was a disaster for the Raptors. They let the Magic hang in the game for far too long, allowing a fourth quarter comeback. Guard D.J. Augustin made a clutch three-pointer in the game's final seconds, which was the nail in the coffin for Toronto.
The Raptors' struggles in Game 1 were obvious. Guard Kyle Lowry didn't score a single point, and many of the other starters were inefficient with their shots.
The bench provided little help, allowing the Magic to stay in the game and eventually steal it altogether.
But the Raptors have a great team. They were heavily favored entering this series for a reason. Few would be surprised if the team won the next four games in the series to move on to the second round. But that starts with Tuesday's 8:00 P.M. EST contest.
Lowry will need to make an impact, and the rest of the offense will need to take smarter shots.
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