In their Game 2 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Toronto Raptors became just the fifth team in 35 years to hold their foes under 100 points in six straight playoff games.
Per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports, they've held their playoff opponents under 100 points and 42 percent shooting in six consecutive playoff games. The record is held by the 2001-2002 New Jersey Nets squad, which was led by Jason Kidd.
Even in a loss, the Raptors have now held their opponent under 100 points and 42% shooting in 6 straight playoff games. Only the 2001-02 Nets have a longer streak over the last 35 years. https://t.co/vsbov1iFBu
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 30, 2019
In Game 2, the 76ers shot just 39.5 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from downtown. They also committed 19 turnovers as opposed to the Raptors' nine. Perhaps the key factor in the game's 94-89 outcome was the 76ers' aggressive game. They were 24-of-26 from the free throw line while the Raptors were just 13-of-15.
It also helped that the Brett Brown-led Sixers stretched their lead to as much as 19 points at one stage of the game. Jimmy Butler, too, was a key factor down the stretch, hitting huge buckets when the Raptors tried to make a run. He notched 30 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
If we are to trust how history has treated teams who played great defense, the Raptors have a strong chance of making it to the NBA Finals. They are one of the best defensive teams in the league. In the playoffs, they rank second with a defensive rating of 96.6. Though they allowed the 76ers to steal one at their home, from a broader perspective, the Raptors are still in a good position to win this series… just not as good as they hoped after Game 2.
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