The second game will take place Thursday night in Toronto, before the series shifts to Miami for the next two, Saturday and Monday. “It didn’t mean anything, we lost the game”, he said, still cradling a ball from his post-game gym visit.
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On a night the Toronto Raptors played poorly, they very almost pulled off a victory after Kyle Lowry’s long-distance buzzer-beater forced overtime. Neither proved or assured anyone of anything, though the Raptors did lose their seventh-consecutive postseason Game 1. After the Raptors’ loss on Tuesday night, Kyle Lowry was back on the court, practicing his long-range jump shot. And they were definitely probably trying to figure out what we were going to do.You know, with our matchups, with Norm [Powell] starting on D-Wade and [DeMarre Carroll] with Joe [Johnson], just trying to figure out where we could take advantage or what plays we can run and the feel.
“I was extremely proud of the group” Heat head coach Erik Spolestra said of his team’s late resurgence. His teammates had gone home, but the struggling point guard continued to hoist up jumpers.
Lowry also called his shooting slump “frustrating”. On a night where Lowry and DeRozan struggled to find consistency on the offensive side of the ball, Valanciunas was a lynchpin for the Raptors. I don’t care if you miss 15 shots, I’m going to stand behind him just like if he’s making 15 shots in a row.
Kyle Lowry’s shot is not normal right now.
Through eight postseason games he’s just 34 for 111 from the field and just 8-of-50 from the three-point line.
Lowry’s 39-foot bomb to force overtime was the single highlight on another terrible night for Toronto’s all-star point guard. He’s still going to be that same Kyle Lowry and we never focus on offence.
Toronto, like Miami, wasn’t supposed to go seven games against their opponent but that’s exactly what they did.
So, there Lowry was, putting up shots in an empty Air Canada Centre.
“I know the pressure I put on myself”. It’s just like a hitter, hitters go through slumps. “He’s crafty, he’s making plays, he’s a good passer, he’s a hell of a good defender, always sacrificing his body and getting steals”. That shot wasn’t the difference in the ball game, but it once again highlighted the Raptors vulnerability along the perimeter.
Draymond Green added 17 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and four blocked shots in another win without injured Stephen Curry, sidelined with a sprained MCL in his right knee. Terrence Ross was enlisted on Wade for a spurt, while at the same time going on an 11-point scoring blitz for Toronto.
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That half-court shot was just about the only thing that went Lowry’s way on Tuesday – one of the worst games of his four-year tenure in Toronto. “Last seen in the regular-season”. “We watched their first series, look when those guys are down they come back fighting”. “It’s definitely something I don’t want to play with”. He’s their best player, the superstar who gives them a chance to advance to the Conference Finals.
