Toronto’s energy-sucking Game 1 loss could be explained away, to an extent. As is the case with most games in which the loser leas for the majority of play, some encouragement could be gleaned. Replicate some of the good, hope like the forces of crappy luck aren’t so mean next time, and there’s a formula there for the Raptors to make this series a drawn out affair.
Doing so hinges on tonight’s Game 2. Splitting on home court isn’t ideal, but you can live with it if you’re Toronto. Falling down two games before a trip to an arena you can never win in would be a mood-destroying, season-dooming disaster.