The long wait is finally over for the Toronto Raptors after 17 years. On Saturday, the Raptors were able to defeat the Washington Wizards 114-106 during Game 1 of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. It was the franchise's first Game 1 victory in a playoff series since back in 2001 when Vince Carter was still the team's main man.
ESPN Stats & Info posted a graphic about the streak earlier today before the game even started, which spanned over the last 10 playoff series for Toronto.
The Raptors have lost Game 1 in each of their last 10 playoff series, longest such streak in NBA history.
The last time the Raptors won Game 1 of a playoff series was in 2001 (Eastern Conf Semis vs the 76ers) pic.twitter.com/xGIw3WesR3
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 14, 2018
It wasn't an easy victory over the No. 8 seed Wizards, but the Raptors got the job done at home to take a 1-0 series lead.
Toronto head coach Dwane Casey, who has been at the helm of the Raptors since the 2011-12 season, opened up about the significance of this win after the game.
Via an article written today by Michael Grange of Rogers Sportsnet:
“It’s just a phenomenon of tightness or whatever it is here at home,” coach Casey during his postgame press conference. “So it’s a psychological phenomenon that I don’t have an answer for. We’ve changed up routines, changed up practice, changed up scouting reports, a lot of information, not so much information. We’re trying to find the right niche or fit or whatever it is, preparation, going into Game 1.”
Raptors power forward Serge Ibaka simply stole the show on Saturday against the Wizards, as the big man tied a game-high with 23 points on 8-0f-11 shooting from the field, 12 rebounds, and two blocked shots in 33 minutes of action.
Point guard Delon Wright came off the bench and scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, while All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan had 17 points of his own.
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