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” That was a fantastic play,” Brown stated. “He did his task, he drew 2 and found the open man. He put us up 2. It was a huge play for us.
” Point-five on the clock. We simply required one stop to win the f– ing game.”
The Celtics didnt get that stop. And, in the period of that half-second, they saw their opportunity to put a stranglehold on this series slip away– and allow the defending champs to have a brand-new lease on life.
” I indicate, theyre an actually great team that were betting,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens stated. “Theyre tough, wise, they put you on your heels. However I believed our men really contended, really fought.
” Both groups left all of it out there this evening in a terrific game. It hurts and it stings to lose, but well just return to it and prepare for Saturday.”
Tim BontempsESPN
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.– The Boston Celtics were 0.5 seconds far from taking a commanding 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series versus the defending champ Toronto Raptors.
However after Raptors forward OG Anunoby shook free for a spectacular buzzer-beating 3-pointer that saw Toronto escape with a heart-stopping 104-103 triumph, Celtics forward Jaylen Brown didnt attempt to hide his disgust over permitting the Raptors to endure– and stay in the series as an outcome.
” That was just a f– ing disgrace at the end of the video game,” Brown stated. “That was just horrible.
” No method we must have lost that game. I take duty for that. Not simply that play, but a great deal of the plays prior to. And it occurs. This is the NBA playoffs. Either you let them get momentum or you return and be all set to play next video game.”
It appeared like the Celtics had actually all but ended Torontos quest to defend its title after Kemba Walker made a ridiculous play to divide a double-team by Raptors guard Fred VanVleet and center Marc Gasol, enter the lane and throw a no-look bounce pass to Daniel Theis for a dunk with 0.5 seconds delegated give the Celtics a 103-101 lead.
As Toronto tried to incoming the ball– with 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall, having subbed in for Walker, defending the inbounds pass against Kyle Lowry, who is noted at 6 feet– there was a miscommunication between Jayson Tatum and Brown as Anunoby ran along the standard to the opposite corner of the basket.
Tatum thought he had actually signaled Brown to remain with Anunoby and end up going to double-team VanVleet. Brown, on the other hand, had stuck with Gasol just enough time in the paint that as Lowrys pass cruised over everyone to Anunoby, who was waiting in the corner for it to arrive, he had to attempt to fly out to defend it.
However he handled to get there only after the ball left Anunobys hands– leaving him, and the rest of the Celtics, defenseless to do anything however view the shot fail the web as the buzzer sounded. Bostons gamers tossed their hands in the air in disgust while Torontos gamers did the exact same in event of conserving their season.
” No method we need to have lost that video game. Not simply that play, however a lot of the plays prior to. Either you let them acquire momentum or you come back and be prepared to play next video game.”
Cant give up the 3 at the end of the game. We got ta be all set to play Game 4.”
“Thats all that really is. They made a remarkable play at the end. We were matched up, and OG snuck along the standard, didnt acknowledge him early enough and he got a wide-open appearance.
” We got ta be much better than that. We got ta interact much better. Me being four years in, I got ta be better. Cant quit the 3 at the end of the game. … He made an amazing shot, however still.
” Its a f– ing disgrace. Terrible. No excuse for it. At all. It was outrageous. Cant take your foot off the gas at all. We got ta be ready to play Game 4.”
After Boston burnt out Toronto in Game 1, the past 2 games have actually played out like most expected before the series started, with two of the best defensive teams in the NBA grinding out games that have actually come down to the final seconds.
In Game 2, it was Walker who struck the biggest shots of the video game in the final 2 minutes to seal the win. In Game 3, it was Walker who made the absurd pass to Theis to relatively do so once again.
