Celtics' Jaylen Brown calls defense on Raptors' game-winning shot 'a (expletive) disgrace'
With their season on the line, the Toronto Raptors drew up a play that delivered when they needed it most. OG Anunoby hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Raptors a 104-103 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their second-round series Thursday night.
Anunoby caught a cross-court pass with 0.5 seconds left on the clock and got his shot off over the out-stretched hand of a leaping Jaylen Brown.
Brown tipped his cap to the Raptors afterwards for the slick play design. However, he lamented the Celtics' defensive lapse that allowed Anunoby to get free and couldn't hide his frustration.
"It's a (expletive) disgrace at the end of the game," Brown said. "That was just terrible. No way we should have lost that game. I take responsibility for that. Not just that play, but a lot of the plays before. It happens. It's the NBA playoffs. Either you let them gain momentum or you come back and get ready to play next game."
Brown and the Celtics could have taken a commanding 3-0 series lead and effectively ended the Raptors' title defense. Instead, Toronto is back in the series down 2-1 with Game 4 on Saturday night.
"Just a miscommunication, the coverage that we were in," Brown said of the final play. "That's all that really is. They made a remarkable play at the end."
Anunoby finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto. Kyle Lowry scored 31 points, and Fred VanVleet added 25.
Brown had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Boston. Kemba Walker had 29 points, and Jayson Tatum had 15.