The Toronto Raptors very nearly overcame a 2-0 deficit against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Alas, the defending NBA champions watched their season crumble after losing Game 7 on Friday night. The Raptors also made some history in the process — though it is history Nick Nurse and Co. probably would have preferred to avoid.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Raptors are the first defending champion to not reach the Conference Finals since the 2014-15 San Antonio Spurs.
The Raptors are first defending champion to not reach the Conference Finals since the 2014-15 Spurs.
This is the 4th time under the current playoff format (since 1984) that a 1 or 2 seed isn't involved in the Conference Finals, and the first time that it's happened in the East. pic.twitter.com/ms53f3rzuC
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 12, 2020
Interestingly, Toronto's loss to a hungry Celtics team was every bit as dramatic as the Spurs' early playoff exit in 2015.
That Spurs team won 55 games, yet still finished as the sixth seed in a loaded Western Conference. Still, the defending champions took three of the first five games, and they had the chance to close the series at home.
However, the Clippers took Game 6 in San Antonio, and Chris Paul delivered the heroics in Game 7, hitting a game-winning layup with just one second remaining.
The Raptors were on the verge of an ugly collapse after losing the first two games and trailing in the final seconds of Game 3. But OG Anunoby's buzzer-beater gave Toronto new life, and the Raptors tied the series in Game 4.
A blowout loss in Game 5 was followed by yet another gripping contest, with the Raptors capturing Game 6 in double overtime. But Toronto could not complete the comeback, with its season coming to a disappointing end.
Despite making the wrong kind of history, Raptors fans have every reason to be proud of this team. Toronto lost Kawhi Leonard and still almost managed to level up, capturing the No. 2 seed in the East with Pascal Siakam becoming an All-Star and the backcourt of Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet taking command on both ends.
But the absence of Leonard exposed Toronto's lack of scoring options down the stretch against a stingy Celtics team. The Raptors will have to watch the rest of the playoffs from home.
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