OG Anunoby hit a three-pointer as time expired Thursday night, sending the Toronto Raptors to a 104-103 over the Boston Celtics in game three of an Eastern Conference semifinal series at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Boston still leads the best of seven 2-1.
Toronto in a must win game started fast breaking out early to a 10-3 lead in the first 2:45 of action. Boston took their first lead of the night when Daniel Theis hit one of two from the foul line just under four minutes later. The lead would flip flop over the next several minutes before the Celtics would take a pair of five point leads, the second on a Kemba Walker three-pointer just before the first quarter buzzer to make it 33-28. Boston led the entire second quarter by as many as 10 using a 9-0 run at one point to extend the lead to 47-37. Kyle Lowry stepped up big in the first half for Toronto with 15 points, but it was the Celts with a 57-47 halftime advantage behind a game high 21 from Walker.
Toronto came back in the third and would take over the lead for the first time since the opening quarter at 68-66 on a Pascal Siakam three-pointer. The Raptors would lead by as many as four in the period, but the Celtics would take control again and would take a four point lead into the fourth quarter on a Brad Wanamaker three point play very late in the quarter. The lead would flip flop once again in the final quarter with both teams holding a lead. Toronto took a 95-91 lead on a Mark Gasol cutting layup with just under six minutes left, before Boston used an 8-0 spurt that included dunks from Theis and Jaylen Brown for a 99-95 lead with 3:02 remaining. The Raptors came back to tie it with just 21.5 seconds showing on the clock on a Fred VanVleet driving layup at 101-101. The green looked as though they had drawn up the game winning play when Walker dribbled near the foul line, and then as the Toronto defenders collapsed on him he found Theis for a dunk with just 0.5 seconds left. But the Raptors drew up a perfect play despite the Celtics bringing in 7 foot 5 rookie center Tacko Fall to guard the inbounds play by Lowry. Lowry made a perfect pass to Anunoby in the far corner, and Anunoby released in plenty of time just over the outstretched arms of Brown to nail the game winning three-point shot as the clock hit zeroes likely saving the season for now for Toronto. The game featured 17 lead changes and 12 ties, and the Raptors got just their second win in seven tries against the Celtics this season.
Walker led Boston in the loss with 29 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Brown had a double double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks. Also getting into double figures was Jayson Tatum with 15 points, nine rebounds, and six assists and Marcus Smart with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Lowry had a game high 31 points, six rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in the Toronto win. VanVleet had 25 points and six assists, while Siakam had 16, Anunoby 12, and Gasol 10. The Raptors did a better job at the three point arc after shooting just 21% from there in the first two games, going 13-40 (33%) in the game three victory. Game four is Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
