Arizona in the NBA Playoffs: Defending champion Raptors crushed by Celtics as former Wildcats shut out

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

(Editor’s note: With Pac-12 sports gone until January, we will be recapping every NBA playoff game that includes a former Arizona Wildcat, along with some social media reaction.)

After registering its first-ever playoff sweep in the first round, the Toronto Raptors came crashing down to Earth in the opener of its Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Boston Celtics.

Second-seeded Toronto, the defending NBA champions, fell behind 16 points after one quarter and never recovered in falling 112-94 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday in the Orlando playoff bubble.

Third-seeded Boston had six players in double figures, with Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum score 21 apiece, while Kemba Walker had 18 points and 10 assists and Daniel Theis has 13 points and 15 rebounds.

The Raptors, who averaged 126.3 points in a first-round sweep of the Brooklyn Nets, shot 36.9 percent and made just 10 of 40 3-pointers.

Toronto’s two former UA stars, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson, were complete non-factors as reserves. Hollis-Jefferson entered the game with 1:50 left but failed to score while Johnson did not play.

What’s next

Toronto and Boston resume their best-of-seven series on Tuesday, with a tip time to be determined.

The other half of the Easter Conference playoffs begins Monday when the Miami Heat—featuring ex-Wildcats Andre Iguodala and Solomon Hill—take on the Milwaukee Bucks at 3:30 p.m. MST on TNT.

What they’re saying about Arizona’s guys on social media

Quite interesting Rondae didn’t play until now. Would’ve thought his energy and rebounding could be a difference-maker.

— Reuben Dongalen Jr. (@ReubenJRD) August 30, 2020

I want Stanley Johnson

— OMG ANNUNOBY (@IAmARaptorsFan) August 30, 2020

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