Even with Pascal Siakam resting, the Toronto Raptors emerged victorious in a tight final at the Wells Fargo Center. The Canadian team took the duel 109-115 against some 76ers who once again could not count on Joel Embiid, but who recovered important men like Tobias Harris and Seth Curry. This, however, did not prevent them from adding their third consecutive defeat, a streak that has seen them fall to fourth place in their conference.
All in all, Doc Rivers’ men left good feelings and stood up until the end, to the point that, after a 9-0 run in the final minutes that allowed them to overcome the Canadian lead, it seemed that they were going to finish. for imposing itself. However, in their next two possessions the Raptors scored two decisive 3s: one from Gary Trent Jr. to take the lead with just over a minute to go, and another from Fred VanVleet to make it 109-113 with 24 seconds to go. end and leave the duel on track.
VanVleet himself, with 32 points and 7 assists, was the most outstanding man of Nurse’s team. The point guard, who scored 6 3s in 11 attempts, did a lot of damage to the Philadelphia defense, as well as Trent and OG Anunoby, both authors of 20 points each. The latter, although he did not score either of the two decisive triples, was fundamental in both, since he served as playmaker penetrating to the basket and assisting his two teammates to score comfortably from the corner.
In the 76ers, Tyrese Maxey returned to sign a performance of the highest level, taking the reins of the team despite the return of important men. The point guard finished the match with 33 points, and with his ability and speed to penetrate to the basket he was responsible for Philadelphia turning the duel around in the fourth quarter, although he could not appear after Toronto took the lead again in the final quarter. final stretch.
Tobias Harris, for his part, returned after six games of absence due to Covid-19, and he did so signing a good 19 goals, 7 rebounds and 7 assists but with some lack of aim (7/18 in the shot). Seth Curry, who had missed only one game due to a foot injury, was also back, although he also did not display his best version and stayed at 15 points after signing a 4/12 in his field shots. We’ll see if they both get better as the days go by until Embiid and Matisse Thybulle are ready to hit the track again.
(Cover photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)