You had to remember, the Raptors had scored just 67 points in the first half.
The Knicks, meanwhile, had scored 65.
Their Big Three had combined for 52 points.
That was above their average for a first half.
After all, the Raptors' players weren't particularly gifted defensively.
But in the Playoffs, especially in a do-or-die Game 7, the Knicks' starters were all giving it everything they had.
And in a Game 7, their minutes were much higher than during the Regular Season, so it was only natural that their combined first-half scoring would exceed their Regular Season average.
The Raptors' players returned to the locker room.
"Our team is still up by two at halftime," the Raptors' head coach said. "Those two points might not seem like much, but staying even with them through the first half is a win for us. Their stamina will drop in the second half, and their offensive efficiency will suffer. Our guys are giving everything they have on defense, so their efficiency will drop even more."
"Besides, Wang Yi barely attacked in the latter half of the second quarter. He was saving his energy for the decisive moments in the fourth. So in the third quarter, you'll still have to carry the offense. When Wang Yi draws a double-team, the rest of you need to find a way to put the ball in that damn basket."
"Of course, Wang, even though you still need to conserve your energy in the third quarter, you can't just stand on the sidelines and watch. Make a Backdoor Cut now and then and catch them by surprise. Show them how much of a threat you are on the court."
Wang Yi nodded. "Don't worry, Coach."
The coach continued, "In the second half, especially the fourth quarter, our starters