Raptors face ‘heckuva challenge’ coming back from down 0-3

Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse is unruffled by the fact no team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.

“I think it’s a heckuva challenge, and somebody’s got to do it,” Nurse said. “And if it gets to 3-1, it’s not 3-0 anymore. And 3-1’s been done.”

The Raptors could be four wins away from history, but they’re also one loss away from elimination, and have yet to see a really good game from all-stars Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam.

The series was close to turning in Wednesday’s overtime loss, but Joel Embiid’s buzzer-beating three-pointer sent the Sixers into Saturday’s Game 4 with a 3-0 lead.

Watch Raptors-76ers Game 4 on Sportsnet at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT.

“We feel like we were super close last game, that was an opportunity to get one, but at the same time, it’s one game at a time. That’s the only approach we can have,” Siakam said.

“History is cool but this one (Saturday) is the most important game of our lives, basically, and I think that’s all that matters. We’ve got to get that one and then we’ve got to think about the rest after.”

NBA teams have come back from 3-1 deficits 13 times. The Denver Nuggets did it twice in the 2020 playoffs, beating Utah in the first round and the L.A. Clippers in the conference semis, the third 3-1 blown lead for head coach Doc Rivers, who of course, now coaches the Sixers.

Philly has also lost two series after leading 3-1.

The Raptors have been swept in three playoff series, twice by Cleveland (2017 and ’18 conference semifinals), and by the Washington Wizards in the opening round in 2015.

The return of rookie Scottie Barnes on Saturday should go a long way in the Raptors avoiding a sweep. After suffering a sprained left ankle in the opening game, he was activated to play just before game time.

Barnes, who was also named NBA rookie of the year on Saturday, was excellent in his playoff debut in Game 1, racking up 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists before he was injured with about nine minutes to play when Embiid, a seven-foot mountain of a man, stepped on his foot.

Gary Trent Jr., who had 24 points in Game 3, will be healthier on Saturday. He was under the weather for a week, dropping eight pounds due to a non-COVID-19 illness.

The Sixers could be dealing with a significant injury concern of their own as star centre Joel Embiid is experiencing pain and discomfort in his right thumb, and there are fears that he has a torn ligament.

Embiid was seen sporting a brace around his thumb during practise on Friday and there are reports he could receive an MRI in the “near future” to determine the extent of the injury. However, the MVP candidate has vowed to play through the injury.

Nurse said he hasn’t addressed the team about the potential for elimination.

“I think that they’re probably fully aware that this is win or be done, put the balls away for the year,” he said. “Listen, I thought we did a really good job of making some adjustments against them the other night. I thought we executed on a lot. . . we got ’em to 90 points with a minute fifty to go in the game, and a super high-powered offensive team with scorers all over the place. So we certainly are doing some things right.

“We had a chance to win. We had several chances to win.”

In 2015’s sweep by Washington, the dispirited Raptors were clobbered 125-94 in Game 4. Does Nurse fear any mental stepback on Saturday?

“No, none at all,” he said. “They’re going to come and play.”

Game 5, if needed, would be Monday in Philadelphia.