NBA Playoffs 2014: Kyle Lowry catches Deron Williams in the face (GIF)

The Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets opened up the 2014 NBA playoffs on Saturday afternoon at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Once the playoffs begin, official seems to allow a little more contact and let teams be more physical with each other. Both teams, especially the veteran Nets, who view themselves as the tougher team, are trying to take advantage of it. That does not mean the Nets are against doing a little flopping.

On this particular play, Raptors’ point guard Kyle Lowry has the ball out passed the three-point line and is trying to get by Nets’ point guard Deron Williams. Lowry swings his arm, puts the ball in his right hand to dribble and makes contact with Williams’ face. The contact is slight, but Williams still flies back like he was absolutely crushed by Lowry.

The Nets threatened to put the game away, but the Raptors have rallied in the second half and the game looks like it is going to come down to the wire.

(H/T @cjzero)