NBA Sunday: Raptors, Heat each win a Game 7, Warriors top Blazers in Game 1

Good morning! Let’s basketball.

CLAWS OUT: The Raptors survived Game 7 to knock out the Pacers thanks to their top-flight bench. They’ll take it! DeMar DeRozan scored 30, but needed 32 FGAs and 9 FTAs to get them. He also got a beneficial swallowed whistle on a key Pacers possession. Meanwhile, Norm Powell hit 5-of-6 for 13 points; Cory Joseph and Bismack Biyombo played big minutes, too. The Pacers nearly came back and won it, and must be looking longingly at that huge blown Game 5 lead. There are suggestions that maybe Frank Vogel’s job isn’t all that safe.

It wasn’t easy. The Raptors started the fourth quarter up 78-64 but watched their lead slowly leak away as the Pacers refused to die. A few minutes into the quarter, Toronto devolved into a clock-killing facade of the offense that had allowed them to build a double-digit lead. By wasting clock and not beginning their offense until the final stages of the shot clock, Toronto ended up with terrible looks that they had no chance of making.

Six years ago, DeMar DeRozan vowed to take care of the Raptors when Chris Bosh left for Miami. On Sunday, he did just that in Game 7 in the only way he knew how: shooting 32 times but scoring 30 points in a Raptors win.

Can you believe that it’s almost been a year since the Great Emoji Battle of the NBA Offseason? It’s crazy to think that so much bad blood resulted from a few tweets with emojis (okay, DeAndre Jordan flip-flopping had something to do with it).

Even though the regular season is over, fans didn’t forget that great day in the offseason. The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers probably won’t forget it, either, given the barrage of questions they’re asked regarding the day that changed the course of both NBA teams.

Timeouts are crucial for teams but they can be a little boring if you’re a fan attending the game. That’s why they have all those cool promotions to keep fans excited during the game whenever there’s a lull.

While he may not have been paying close attention as a result, at least the Warriors’ bench can grab a snack after the win!

Portland played better after the first frame, winning the second quarter, 34-28, but the 20-point deficit established in the first 12 minutes was too large. For anyone nervous what Curry’s loss might do to the Warriors, Game 1 was a friendly reminder: hey, we’re still the Warriors.

There’s no doubt Curry’s impact makes it easier for everyone on the Warriors’ roster. The gravity of his pull-up jump shot has more pull than anyone’s in the league, and for players sharing the court with him, it just means they’ll be open a lot. But the Warriors’ other two stars, Green and Thompson, have proven repeatedly that they’re not “situation” stars -- they could do this on any team.

There’s a better angle for Andre Iguodala’s through-the-legs dribble, where you see just how ridiculously he spun the ball around and through to completely get away from the defender. I honestly can’t decide whether it’s better than the ridiculous reverse finish, either. So let’s send it to a poll!

Not So Secret Weapon: Nobody can stop the Warriors’ deadliest play

Every athletic shot blocker who ever got punked by Big Al in the post is tankful to you, Whiteside, for avenging them.