Watch above: With the ACC packed to the rafters and thousands more fans jammed into Jurassic park, the Raptors tipped off. Rob Leth reports.
TORONTO – Kyle Lowry had 28 points to lead Toronto but the Brooklyn Nets still eliminated the Raptors from the NBA playoffs with a 104-103 Game 7 victory on Sunday.
The Nets will face the Miami Heat in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Forward Amir Johnson was a dominant presence for the Raptors, scoring 20 points and pulling down 10 rebounds before fouling out in the third quarter.
The Raps were coming off a woeful 97-83 loss to the Nets in Game 6 at Brooklyn.
Fans began arriving at the Air Canada Centre Sunday morning to prepare for the big game. Raptors coach Dwane Casey was forced to ditch his car and ride the subway to the ACC due to road closures.
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Casey said he was stuck in traffic for 30 to 40 minutes Sunday before deciding to do a U-turn and head for the subway.
“Good old reliable subway,” Casey said, laughing. “I don’t think anyone expected us to be here today in that they had a marathon and a Game 7 in the same day.”
TTC riders posted pictures of Casey seated on the subway, dressed in a black Canada Goose bomber jacket and a black Raptors T-shirt. His garment bag hung on the glass partition next to his seat.
The Raps-Nets series has been entertaining thus far with memorable moments both on and off the court.
Ahead of Game 1, Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri took the stage at an outdoor gathering at the ACC to pump up fans and ended his speech by pairing an F-bomb with Brooklyn. The NBA fined Ujiri $25,000.
In Game 2, Raptors ambassador and Toronto rapper Drake was caught on live television busting out a lint roller to ensure his pants were dust free as he sat court side.
The NBA playoffs was also thrown into controversy after audio of LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling was leaked of him making racist comments. Sterling was issued a fine and a lifetime ban from the NBA by commissioner Adam Silver.
After evening the series in Game 4 the Raptors went ahead 3-2 after winning Game 5 115-113. During the end of the game video of a young Raptors fan getting rebuffed as he attempted to kiss the girl sitting next to him began circulating online. The incident became an immediate hit on social media.
*With files from The Canadian Press
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