ESPN host apologizes to "all Canadians," Toronto Raptors shrug it off

Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan and teammate Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrate winning over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Eastern Conference final NBA playoff basketball action in Toronto on Monday, May 23, 2016. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn)

CLEVELAND - The Toronto Raptors say they weren't paying attention when Stephen A. Smith wrote them off.

So when the ESPN host apologized for underestimating them, the Raptors responded with a collective shrug.

"They ain't got to say nothing to us," DeMar DeRozan said at Wednesday morning's shootaround, ahead of Game 5. "We didn't care what they said before, we won't care what they say now."

Smith was among the majority of journalists who gave the Raptors little chance against Cleveland. But now they're two wins away from the NBA finals after evening their best-of-seven conference finals against Cleveland at 2-2 on Monday.

After their Game 4 victory, Smith apologized to "all Canadians everywhere."

"I can't put into words how stunned I am, I can't believe what I saw," Smith said.