Kawhi Leonard broke Philly, and the internet was not ready
No one was ready for Kahwi Leonard to rattle the Raptors into the Conference Finals the way he did.
Just when you have seen everything in Game 7, Kawhi Leonard’s Series-winner takes this NBA postseason to another level. After bouncing around for what seemed like a minute, Leonard’s final heave ultimately went down, sending the Raptors to Milwaukee and ending Philly’s season in heartbreak.
Sometimes, magical shots are not always right on target. Tonight, Kawhi Leonard’s series-winner against the Philadelphia 76ers bounced before sending the Toronto Raptors to the Eastern Conference finals with a 92-90 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Leonard led all scorers with 41 points.
NBA players, writers, broadcasters, websites, and sports personalities fired off quick responses after Leonard’s dramatic series-winner. Even 76ers center Joel Embiid, who defended Leonard on the last possession, chimed in with a congratulatory tweet, despite tearing up after the game.
WHAT AN INSANE WALK OFF I AM SPEECHLESS... FINALLY🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) May 13, 2019
Fading and off-balance on top of this contest. He makes it 10% of time? pic.twitter.com/GzP9PpVHwr
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) May 13, 2019
KAWHI IS THE MAN
— Joel “Troel” Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) April 23, 2017
Four bounces on the rim before it dropped in. Four. Toronto advances.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/nasrinulel_/status/1127750387694358529
No. 2 just had the audacity to say he works on that shot every day??????????????????? So he works on hitting the near side of the rim on a corner 3, having the ball bounce up and off the near side a 2nd time, across the rim, then bounce twice off the FAR SIDE before falling in???
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 13, 2019
2019 has already brought us the Double Doink and the Quadruple Bounce.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 13, 2019
A CANADIAN HERITAGE MOMENT. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/pndqmiPHPX
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/rob_912savage/status/1127750565369450496
Philadelphia can't really complain about bad bouncing luck. pic.twitter.com/vmSPDyMo8j
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) May 13, 2019
Kawhi’s reaction to his game-winner is priceless pic.twitter.com/fSS9WWI88y
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 13, 2019
Kawhi is the true King in the North after beating Philly. pic.twitter.com/NBK0Kut1vP
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) May 13, 2019
No. 2 could shoot that shot 100,000 times and not get it to do THAT again. It bounced BACKWARD off the near side of the rim. I thought it would just fall straight down. But it somehow had weird enough forward spin, when it caught a little iron again, it bounced to the far side.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 13, 2019
For the series! #TissotBuzzerBeater#ThisIsYourTime pic.twitter.com/cQoCjsMBt2
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2019
Nothing but respect after a 7-game series. 👏👏👏@JoelEmbiid x @MarcGasol pic.twitter.com/PyeiuET278
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 13, 2019
Dunno why I watched this 20 times already..... https://t.co/6pPccfXeZr
— Cassidy Hubbarth (@CassidyHubbarth) May 13, 2019
In coincidence, Philadelphia actually received a reverse of another memorable payoff bounce that gave its team a win. In January’s NFC Wild Card Game, Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey’s kick doinked off the upright and crossbar, breaking Chicago’s hearts and giving Philly a 16-15 win.
The Eastern Conference finals between the Raptors and Bucks will start on Wednesday in Milwaukee, where Toronto will be looking for its first NBA Finals Appearance. Milwaukee will be playing in its first Eastern Conference finals since 2001.
The Bucks went 3-1 over the Raptors against the Bucks in the regular season. Toronto’s only win came on January 5, where Leonard and Pascal Siakam each scored 30 points in a 123-116 victory over Milwaukee. These team last met up in the 2017 playoffs, where the Raptors won in six games.