The Raptors will have to do something they've never done in franchise history: win a Game 7.
For the second time in three years, the Raptors will play a winner-take-all playoff game. Although the expectations are very different this season compared to when Toronto faced Brooklyn in 2014, the two series have followed a similar narrative.
In both years, the Raptors split the first four games with their opponent, won Game 5, then lost Game 6. The Nets went on to win that series 4-3 so now the question is: will the Raptors be able to reverse the trend in Sunday's deciding Game 7?
Here are a few facts and figures to consider:
DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry
2014 vs Brooklyn: 39.4 per cent shooting - 45.0 points per game (combined)
2016 vs Indiana: 31.6 shooting - 30.1 points per game (combined)
In 2014, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan established themselves as the 'heartbeat' of the Raptors and performed well against an older, more experienced Nets squad. However, the duo has not yet been able to live up to this year's larger expectations against the Pacers. Although Lowry has found other ways to contribute averaging 4.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists in the series, his 14.3 points through the first six games against Indiana is considerably down from the 21.2 points he averaged in the regular season.
DeRozan exploded for 34 points in Game 5 but has only averaged 12.2 points in the other five games this series. Considering the Compton, CA native put up 23.5 in the regular season, his inconsistent play leaves the Raptors wondering which DeRozan will show up for Game 7.
Looking back: Game 7 vs. Brooklyn
Lowry: 7-19 FG (36.8 per cent), 28 points, 3 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 turnovers (41 minutes)
DeRozan: 5-12 FG (41.7 per cent), 18 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers (45 minutes)
Lowry and DeRozan combined for 46 points in the Raptors' heartbreaking 104-103 loss to the Nets in 2014. Lowry's 28 points was the second most in the series and was up compared to the the 21.1 points he had averaged in the previous six games of the series.
But with the Raptors trailing by one, Lowry's final shot of the series was blocked by Paul Pierce as time expired.
DeRozan shot over 41 per cent from the field in that Game 7 but only managed 18 points, down from the 23.9 he had averaged in the series.
Turnovers
2014 vs. Brooklyn: 15.3 per game
2016 vs. Indiana: 14.7 per game
Turnovers have certainly plagued the Raptors in both seven-game series. However in Game 7 against the Nets, the Raptors were relatively responsible with the ball committing just nine turnovers. In the 2016 series against the Pacers, turnovers have been especially crucial as the Raptors are 0-3 when committing 14 or more per game.
The Magic of Game 7
85.1: Percentage of teams in the NBA that have held a 3-2 series lead have gone on to win the series. The Raptors did not help this statistic by falling to the Nets in seven games after leading the series 3-2.
121: Game 7s that have occurred in NBA history. The Raptors once again have statistics on their side as the home team has a staggering 98-24 record in the series-deciding game. In the last two years, the home team is 6-1 in Game 7. But Toronto is responsible for that one blemish losing to Brooklyn at the Air Canada Centre in the series clincher in 2014.
2: The combined amount of points which Toronto has lost their only two Game 7s. The Raptors fell 104-103 to the Nets in 2014 and 88-87 to the 76ers in 2001.
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