By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Fred VanVleet became the first Raptor to score 30 points and dish at least 10 assists in the playoffs, leading Toronto to the 1340-110 win over the Brooklyn Nets in the opening game of their first-round playoff series.
VanVleet went 8 of 10 from 3-point range and the Raptors shot 22 of 44 from beyond the arc as a team. Spaniard Serge Ibaka scored 22 points off the bench for the Raptors and his compatriot Marc Gasol added 13, OG Anunoby.
Brooklyn’s French forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 26 to match a career-high, however, it was Caris LeVert who had 15 points and 15 assists that helped the Nets stay close in the third period.
Toronto led 73-51 at halftime and got even a 68-35 advantage. but in the third period, everything changed and the Nets were trailing by nine (95-86) entering the last quarter. Sill, that was the closest they could get.
Latvian Rodion Kurucs who was a starter for Brooklyn, finished the game with six points and six rebounds.