Leonard hits bouncer at buzzer, Raptors beat 76ers in Game 7
TORONTO (AP) Kawhi Leonard bounced, bounced, bounced, bounced the Philadelphia 76ers out of the playoffs.
Leonard hit a shot from the corner over Joel Embiid at the buzzer that bounced off the rim four times before falling to give the Toronto Raptors a 92-90 victory over the 76ers on Sunday night in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series. It was the first winning buzzer-beater in a Game 7 in NBA history.
''It was great,'' Leonard said. ''That's something I never experienced before, Game 7, a game-winning shot. It was a blessing to be able to get to that point and make that shot and feel that moment.''
After Philadelphia's Jimmy Butler tied it with a driving layup with 4.2 seconds left, Toronto used its final timeout to draw up a play for Leonard, who dribbled toward the right corner and launched the high-arching shot.
It bounced to the top of the backboard, hit the near side of the rim again, then the other side twice before going through, setting off a wild celebration as the Raptors advanced to the conference finals for the second time in four seasons. They will open the conference finals Wednesday night at Milwaukee.
''It's tough,'' Butler said. ''Nobody likes to lose, not that way.
Leonard scored 41 points on 16-of-39 shooting.
''He was awesome at both ends,'' Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. ''That's his uniqueness. Not only can he get you 30 and anywhere upwards from that, but there's moments when he can just decide you're not scoring, either.''
The Raptors ran a similar play for Leonard during the first round against Orlando. That time, he caught the ball and shot without dribbling.
''Remembering that moment, I knew I had some time to try to get some space, rather than just catch and shoot the ball,'' Leonard said. ''I ended up finding a spot that I like, that I work on. I just knew I had to shoot it high.''
Serge Ibaka added 17 points, and Pascal Siakam had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Toronto.
Embiid, in tears as he left the court, led the 76ers with 21 points and 11 rebounds. JJ Redick had 17 points, Butler added 16, and Tobias Harris had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
''I give Toronto credit for a tenacious, switching defense,'' 76ers coach Brett Brown said. ''We had a hard time turning the corner once they did switch.''
Redick tied it at 85 with a three-point play with 3:29 left. Nearly two minutes passed before the next basket, Leonard's long jumper with 1:41 to go that was initially ruled a 3, but changed to a 2 after video review.
On Philadelphia's next possession, Kyle Lowry forced a steal near midcourt and fed Siakam for a fast-break layup, giving Toronto an 89-85 lead with 1:14 left.
Butler made one of two at the line and Leonard missed a pair of jump shots, giving the 76ers the ball down 89-86 with 24.1 seconds remaining. Embiid was fouled and made both, cutting it to 89-88 with 12 seconds left.
Leonard was fouled with 10.8 seconds left. He made the first, but missed the second, setting up Butler's tying layup.
''We did a lot of things that we could have done better but we found a way to win the game,'' Lowry said. ''That's all that matters.''
TIP-INS
76ers: Embiid shot 6 for 18. ... Philadelphia finished 9 for 27 from 3-point range. ... The 76ers made 17 turnovers leading to 21 points for the Raptors.
Raptors: In its only other conference finals, Toronto lost to LeBron James and Cleveland in six games in 2016. ... Toronto went 0 for 8 from 3-point range in the first quarter. It finished 7 for 30 ... Leonard had Toronto's only assist of the first.
ROTTEN RECORD
The 76ers are 11-21 in winner-take-all playoff games.
UP NEXT
Toronto opens the Eastern Conference Finals at Milwaukee on Wednesday night. The Raptors lost three of four against the Bucks in the regular season and finished two games behind Milwaukee in the race for the NBA's best record.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:44 | Joel Embiid missed jump shot | |||
11:42 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
11:32 | Pascal Siakam missed hook shot | |||
11:30 | Offensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
11:29 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made layup | 0-2 | |
11:23 | Defensive rebound by Pascal Siakam | |||
11:08 | Defensive rebound by Joel Embiid | |||
10:59 | Defensive rebound by Kyle Lowry | |||
10:49 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
10:38 | Jimmy Butler missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:36 | Defensive rebound by Kyle Lowry | |||
10:09 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
9:54 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made jump shot | 0-4 | |
9:37 | Defensive rebound by Pascal Siakam | |||
9:27 | Defensive rebound by Joel Embiid | |||
9:07 | +2 | Pascal Siakam made layup | 0-6 | |
8:51 | Personal foul on Kyle Lowry | |||
8:40 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
8:16 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
7:53 | Pascal Siakam missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:47 | Kawhi Leonard missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:44 | Offensive rebound by Pascal Siakam | |||
7:25 | +3 | JJ Redick made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ben Simmons | 3-6 | |
7:04 | Kyle Lowry missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:01 | Defensive rebound by JJ Redick | |||
6:48 | Joel Embiid missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:46 | Defensive rebound by Danny Green | |||
6:40 | Offensive foul on Kyle Lowry | |||
6:40 | Turnover on Kyle Lowry | |||
6:18 | +2 | Tobias Harris made floating jump shot | 5-6 | |
5:59 | Defensive rebound by Ben Simmons | |||
5:58 | Shooting foul on Fred VanVleet | |||
5:58 | +1 | Ben Simmons made 1st of 2 free throws | 6-6 | |
5:58 | +1 | Ben Simmons made 2nd of 2 free throws | 7-6 | |
5:36 | Fred VanVleet missed jump shot | |||
5:34 | Offensive rebound by Fred VanVleet | |||
5:25 | Lost ball turnover on Serge Ibaka, stolen by Tobias Harris | |||
5:19 | Bad pass turnover on Tobias Harris, stolen by Pascal Siakam | |||
5:15 | Shooting foul on Jimmy Butler | |||
5:15 | +1 | Fred VanVleet made 1st of 2 free throws | 7-7 | |
5:15 | +1 | Fred VanVleet made 2nd of 2 free throws | 7-8 | |
4:56 | Bad pass turnover on Greg Monroe, stolen by Kawhi Leonard | |||
4:53 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made dunk | 7-10 | |
4:27 | Greg Monroe missed hook shot | |||
4:22 | Shooting foul on James Ennis III | |||
4:22 | +1 | Fred VanVleet made 1st of 2 free throws | 7-11 | |
4:22 | +1 | Fred VanVleet made 2nd of 2 free throws | 7-12 | |
4:01 | Lost ball turnover on Joel Embiid, stolen by Danny Green | |||
3:57 | +2 | Danny Green made dunk, assist by Kawhi Leonard | 7-14 | |
3:43 | Mike Scott missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:40 | Defensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
3:22 | Kawhi Leonard missed jump shot, blocked by Ben Simmons | |||
3:19 | Defensive rebound by Joel Embiid | |||
3:09 | Traveling violation turnover on Joel Embiid | |||
2:54 | Serge Ibaka missed jump shot | |||
2:51 | Defensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
2:39 | +2 | Mike Scott made jump shot, assist by Tobias Harris | 9-14 | |
2:13 | Marc Gasol missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:10 | Defensive rebound by Ben Simmons | |||
2:06 | Personal foul on Serge Ibaka | |||
1:54 | +2 | Joel Embiid made layup, assist by JJ Redick | 11-14 | |
1:46 | Personal foul on Ben Simmons | |||
1:35 | Bad pass turnover on Kawhi Leonard, stolen by JJ Redick | |||
1:29 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
1:17 | Shooting foul on Ben Simmons | |||
1:17 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard made 1st of 2 free throws | 11-15 | |
1:17 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard made 2nd of 2 free throws | 11-16 | |
1:00 | Lost ball turnover on JJ Redick, stolen by Fred VanVleet | |||
0:54 | TOR team rebound | |||
0:47 | Kawhi Leonard missed floating jump shot | |||
0:45 | Offensive rebound by Serge Ibaka | |||
0:45 | Shooting foul on Mike Scott | |||
0:45 | +1 | Serge Ibaka made 1st of 2 free throws | 11-17 | |
0:45 | +1 | Serge Ibaka made 2nd of 2 free throws | 11-18 | |
0:31 | JJ Redick missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:29 | Defensive rebound by Pascal Siakam | |||
0:24 | Pascal Siakam missed jump shot | |||
0:21 | Defensive rebound by Mike Scott | |||
0:00 | TOR team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:43 | Kyle Lowry missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
11:40 | Defensive rebound by Mike Scott | |||
11:06 | +3 | Serge Ibaka made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Danny Green | 13-21 | |
10:45 | Defensive rebound by Marc Gasol | |||
10:38 | Out of bounds turnover on Kyle Lowry | |||
10:24 | Joel Embiid missed jump shot | |||
10:21 | Offensive rebound by James Ennis III | |||
10:04 | Offensive rebound by Joel Embiid | |||
10:04 | +2 | Joel Embiid made layup | 15-21 | |
9:47 | Shooting foul on Joel Embiid | |||
9:47 | +1 | Pascal Siakam made 1st of 2 free throws | 15-22 | |
9:47 | Pascal Siakam missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
9:45 | Defensive rebound by James Ennis III | |||
9:21 | PHI team rebound | |||
9:12 | +3 | James Ennis III made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Joel Embiid | 18-22 | |
8:53 | +2 | Pascal Siakam made finger-roll layup, assist by Kyle Lowry | 18-24 | |
8:39 | +3 | JJ Redick made 3-pt. jump shot | 21-24 | |
8:19 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made hook shot | 21-26 | |
8:19 | Shooting foul on Tobias Harris | |||
8:19 | +1 | Kawhi Leonard made free throw | 21-27 | |
8:04 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made dunk | 21-29 | |
7:48 | +2 | Ben Simmons made reverse layup, assist by Joel Embiid | 23-29 | |
7:32 | +2 | Pascal Siakam made jump shot | 23-31 | |
7:12 | +2 | Ben Simmons made hook shot | 25-31 | |
7:05 | Offensive foul on Fred VanVleet | |||
7:05 | Turnover on Fred VanVleet | |||
6:49 | Shooting foul on Pascal Siakam | |||
6:49 | +1 | Tobias Harris made 1st of 2 free throws | 26-31 | |
6:49 | +1 | Tobias Harris made 2nd of 2 free throws | 27-31 | |
6:37 | Out of bounds turnover on Pascal Siakam | |||
6:16 | Tobias Harris missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
6:13 | Defensive rebound by Pascal Siakam | |||
6:02 | Traveling violation turnover on Kawhi Leonard | |||
5:47 | Shooting foul on Danny Green | |||
5:47 | +1 | Ben Simmons made 1st of 2 free throws | 28-31 | |
5:47 | +1 | Ben Simmons made 2nd of 2 free throws | 29-31 | |
5:27 | Shooting foul on Joel Embiid | |||
5:27 | +1 | Pascal Siakam made 1st of 2 free throws | 29-32 | |
5:27 | +1 | Pascal Siakam made 2nd of 2 free throws | 29-33 | |
5:02 | Shooting foul on Marc Gasol | |||
5:03 | +1 | Joel Embiid made 1st of 3 free throws | 30-33 | |
5:03 | +1 | Joel Embiid made 2nd of 3 free throws | 31-33 | |
5:03 | +1 | Joel Embiid made 3rd of 3 free throws | 32-33 | |
4:29 | +2 | James Ennis III made finger-roll layup | 34-33 | |
4:05 | Marc Gasol missed jump shot | |||
4:00 | Offensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
4:00 | Kawhi Leonard missed layup, blocked by Joel Embiid | |||
3:59 | Defensive rebound by Ben Simmons | |||
3:50 | +3 | Tobias Harris made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ben Simmons | 37-33 | |
3:38 | +3 | Serge Ibaka made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kyle Lowry | 37-36 | |
3:11 | +2 | Tobias Harris made hook shot, assist by Jimmy Butler | 39-36 | |
3:01 | Kyle Lowry missed finger-roll layup | |||
2:59 | Defensive rebound by Ben Simmons | |||
2:54 | Jimmy Butler missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:53 | Defensive rebound by Danny Green | |||
2:39 | +3 | Kyle Lowry made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Serge Ibaka | 39-39 | |
2:17 | Offensive foul on Jimmy Butler | |||
2:17 | Turnover on Jimmy Butler | |||
1:59 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard made reverse layup | 39-41 | |
1:41 | Tobias Harris missed jump shot | |||
1:32 | Defensive rebound by JJ Redick | |||
1:18 | Defensive rebound by Kawhi Leonard | |||
0:59 | Kawhi Leonard missed jump shot | |||
0:57 | Defensive rebound by JJ Redick | |||
0:40 | JJ Redick missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:37 | Offensive rebound by Tobias Harris | |||
0:35 | Shooting foul on Kawhi Leonard | |||
0:35 | Tobias Harris missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
0:35 | PHI team rebound | |||
0:35 | +1 | Tobias Harris made 2nd of 2 free throws | 40-41 | |
0:30 | Shooting foul on Greg Monroe | |||
0:30 | +1 | Kyle Lowry made free throw | 40-44 | |
0:00 | Kyle Lowry missed floating jump shot | |||
0:00 | Defensive rebound by Joel Embiid | |||
0:00 | End of period |