After ending the Toronto Raptor’s playoff run a year ago in game seven blocked shot while a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards’ Paul Pierce has put a dagger through the Raptors yet again.
Pierce had a game-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting as he led the Wizards to a Game 1, 93-86 win in Toronto Saturday afternoon.
Despite the early struggles of stars John Wall and Bradley Beal early on, Pierce stepped up a critical Wizards run that saw them overturn a seven point deficit into a four point lead before halftime.
Amir Johnson led the way for the Raptors with 18 points. The Raptors fought back from 15 down late in the fourth quarter before falling in overtime.
DeMar DeRozan finished with 15 points, while Kyle Lowry added seven points and eight rebounds but fouled out with 2:36 to go in the game.
The Raptors won all three meetings between the two sides in the regular-season, but looked out of balance after leading until the final few minutes of the second quarter.
After taking the lead, the visiting team didn't look back. The front court of the Wizards came out firing in the third quarter and the Raptors defence struggled to contain them.
A three-pointer with six minutes from Greivis Vasquez left cut the deficit to just six and the crowd at the Air Canada Centre erupted. After the Wizards made a bucket, Lou Williams made back-to-back three’s to to cut Washington’s lead to just two.
Another clutch three from Vasquez with 26 seconds left in the game tied the score at 82-82, putting the game into overtime.
The Wizards got out to an early five-point lead in the overtime frame as the home team failed to make a shot through the first four minutes of the extra quarter.
Toronto would make just two shots in overtime as the Wizards dominated to claim the victory and take the 1-0 lead in the series.
Game 2 is Tuesday in Toronto, tipoff set for 8:00pm.