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76ers Fans React to Kawhi Leonard's Buzzer-Beater on Social Media a Year Later

A year ago, Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard hit a buzzer-beater shot in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. A year later, 76ers fans are still upset.
Justin Grasso|
76ers Fans React to Kawhi Leonard's Buzzer-Beater on Social Media a Year Later
76ers Fans React to Kawhi Leonard's Buzzer-Beater on Social Media a Year Later

On this day in 2019, Philadelphia 76ers fans felt heartbreak once again. As everybody around the NBA knew the Sixers had built one of the more talented lineups in the league, 76ers fans were hopeful that the multiple midseason moves made to improve the roster would enhance the team's postseason progress.

Two years ago, the Sixers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs after getting dominated by the Boston Celtics. Last year, the 76ers were looking for redemption as they faced the Toronto Raptors in the second round. 

The Philly-Toronto series was tough. It took seven games for those two teams to settle with a winner -- and even then, the Sixers and the Raptors almost needed an extra quarter to finally separate from one another. The keyword here is almost.

With four seconds left in the game, the Raptors managed to inbound the ball to their star forward, Kawhi Leonard. As expected, the series' standout player was going to take the final shot. If he misses, the Sixers and the Raptors head into overtime. If he makes it, well then, the Raptors are going to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The situation was intense, and the sequence of the shot alone made the scene much more dramatic. Somehow, Leonard got his shot off with a seven-foot center jumping in front of him. And four bounces later, the Raptors officially eliminated the 76ers from the playoffs, breaking the hearts of Sixers fans all over. Sometimes, pain is temporary. In this case, though, 76ers fans are still recovering a year later. 

Recalling The Scene Back at Home... 

The Views at Xfinity Live...

Hold the Memories Please... 

More Upset With a Missed Call?

A Look on the Brightside... 

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on Twitter: @JGrasso_

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s Philadelphia 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia Threads: @JGrassoMedia

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