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The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors could not have been more even for six games.
In the series tied 3-games apiece, the teams had each scored 669 points entering Game 7.
It was the second time in NBA history that a series had gone to Game 7 with the points exactly even, according to NBC's broadcast.
The first? The 2016 NBA Finals.
That was Cavs against Warriors, and that was Cleveland's long-awaited championship with LeBron James.
In essence, history answered which team scored more points after the six-game deadlock that time around.
Could this season's Cavs have the same story?
MORE: Joel Embiid, injuries and all, overcomes Game 7 demons
They certainly did on Sunday night, surging to end the first half, then pulling away in the second half to eliminate the Toronto Raptors from the first round of the postseason.
Sure, the Cavaliers are still 12 wins away from a championship. But they've got a LeBron-sized omen on their side.
They've also got a team fit for any moment.
If a game requires guard play, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden can do it.
If the bigs are needed, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are well-equipped.
Shooting? Sam Merrill and Max Strus have it covered.
Add in guys like Jaylon Tyson, Dennis Schroder and Dean Wade, and that's quite the rotation that can fit any situation.
That's how they stuck tight with a gritty Raptors team for this whole series, even in the tough moments, even when down for the entire first half before tying it up on the half's final basket.
They had all the answers they needed.
The Eastern Conference had the Celtics knocked out, but the 1-seed Pistons are in Cleveland's way next. The other semifinal is 76ers-Knicks.
Eventually, a West behemoth would loom, likely the Thunder or Spurs -- or maybe LeBron himself.
For now, though, the Cavs have reason to celebrate, and reason to believe.
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