At this point, the ratings for what had originally been a largely overlooked game had begun to surge.
No one, including the head coaches of both teams, had expected the game to be this intense.
The game had reached the fourth quarter, and the gap between the two teams was only two points.
Ever since Link entered the game in the third quarter, the Grizzlies had been relentlessly clawing their way back. By the end of the third, the Raptors led by only five!
Though they were still ahead, the Raptors were certainly unhappy with that outcome.
If Lowry and DeRozan had not continued to play so well, and if Joerger had not taken Link out near the end of the third to let him catch his breath, it was hard to say whether the Raptors would still have been leading.
Sure enough, once the fourth quarter began and Link returned to the floor, the Raptors' lead became precarious.
Led by Link, the Grizzlies quickly tied the score. After that, the two sides fell into a chaotic back-and-forth battle, trading the lead all the way until now.
It had to be said that DeRozan and Lowry were both playing exceptionally well today. They had truly taken on the responsibilities expected of franchise stars.
Again and again, the two made crucial baskets in critical moments, preventing the Grizzlies from taking the chance to pull away.
Unfortunately, the Raptors could not regain the lead either, because the opponent standing in their way was simply too powerful.
The Grizzlies had once built a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, but after that, Joerger took Link out again for a rest.
Link's physical exertion today had indeed been enormous. Even setting aside the back-to-back factor, battling through a fever alone was already incredibly draining.