Air Canada Centre had not been this lively in quite some time.
Every fan was cheering and shouting for the Raptors.
They had not held out much hope of toppling the Grizzlies, who were riding a seven-game winning streak, but this unexpected delight only made them more excited.
Indeed, the Grizzlies were completely out of sorts today, unable to bring out even 80 percent of their strength.
Indeed, the Grizzlies were without their star player, Link, and Toronto's freezing weather had left him barely able to move.
But none of that mattered. As long as the Raptors won, it was a real win in the standings.
The league would not refuse to recognize the victory just because the Grizzlies were without their star player or playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
Their 18-point halftime lead let Raptors fans breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Barring any surprises, their four-game losing streak would end here. They would also reclaim the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Given the Grizzlies' current state, they simply did not have the ability to erase an 18-point deficit.
If Link had been around, an 18-point comeback might not have been anything unbelievable.
But with Link absent and the Grizzlies in such poor form, Toronto fans believed that 18 points was already a safe enough lead for the Raptors.
"This has absolutely been an unexpected game. No one thought it would be the Grizzlies getting pinned down and pounded today. But they really have been exhausted lately. Facing strong opponents one after another has accelerated the drain on their stamina."
The commentator looked over the Grizzlies' first-half stats. They could only be described as a complete disaster.
After one half, Gasol was the only Grizzlies player in double figures, which was clearly nowhere near their