The Toronto Raptors dropped Game 1 of their best of seven series with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
It was the seventh straight defeat in the playoffs to the LeBron James led Cavs for Canada's team, but DeMar DeRozan remained confident following the game.
When asked whether or not Toronto let the first of game of the series slip away the four-time all-star didn't mix his words in his response.
"For sure - without a doubt," DeRozan told reporters following the 113-112 overtime defeat. "We had many opportunities to close this game out.
"We couldn't buy a bucket, we got some great looks. We had a lot of shots point blank at the rim that were in and out."
The Raptors couldn't hit the ocean with a pebble down the stretch of Game 1. In the last four minutes of regulation and the extra five minutes in overtime, Toronto shot a dismal 3-for-18 from the field.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 2, 2018
They also did not make a three-point over that same span. It wasn't just the shot that weren't falling for Toronto, but the type of shots they missed. Nine of those 18 attempts came in the paint, most from point-blank range.
With that in mind, DeRozan and his team are already prepared for a better night in Game 2.
"Freddy (VanVleet) got two great looks - we can name countless of things. It should've never came down to depending on none of those.
"It happens - now we understand what we've got to do next game."
Game 2 goes Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre.
