Before Game 3 between the Nets and the Raptors, there were few who put a coin on the team led by Jacque Vaughn. Rightly so, since the reigning champions did not give their opponent a gift this Friday. On the other hand, we did not really expect the Tyler Johnson show …
Joe Harris absent after leaving the bubble, Jacque Vaughn decided to integrate Johnson into the starting five and we can say that the latter took the opportunity to show himself. After making his small contribution off the bench during the first two games of the series, friend Tyler let go by offering us his personal record of the season, and his career record in the Playoffs: 23 points in 24 minutes at 8/15 shooting and a big 5/9 from the parking lot. No doubt Kyrie Irving can tremble for next year. Johnson was particularly successful in the third quarter, during which he scored 15 quiet points, all without asking any questions. YOLO as young people say. The number 8 with the big tuft even finished top scorer of his team in front of Caris LeVert, a feeling that he should not find anytime soon. So we advise him to enjoy this moment in his hotel room this weekend. The magic of Disney World has struck again.
Of course, the good performance of Tyler Johnson was not enough, the reigning champions offering a very serious overall performance on both sides of the pitch. The storyline was completely different from Game 2. No cold sweats for the Raptors because this time around, the Nets couldn’t compete. And if they hung on despite their big limits, they ended up taking the water to lose heavily 117 – 92 against a Toronto team very well oiled (35 assists) and very skilful (50.5% of shooting success, 47.4% at 3-points). Pascal Siakam (26 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) pulled out one of his best games in the bubble, Fred VanVleet (22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 8/13 shooting, 6/10 from far) continued to do dirty and now crashes from the opposing part of the field, Kyle Lowry made Kyle Lowry (11 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 interceptions, 32 forced passes provoked), and the Dinos bench has perfectly played its role thanks in particular to a well-inspired Serge Ibaka (20 points, 13 rebounds). It was too much for the Nets, who will now try to save the honor in Game 4 on Sunday. It promises to be complicated given the difference in level between the two teams, but a success would still reward the beautiful course of Brooklyn at Mickey’s.
For the first time in Raptors history, the Canadian franchise leads 3-0 in a series of playoffs. And something tells us that this 3-0 will turn into a sweeping night from Sunday to Monday.
FREDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!pic.twitter.com/Te3OH5perK
– Nico TrashTalk ???? (@nicolasmeichel) August 21, 2020
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