Sixers take 3-0 series lead over Raptors

TORONTO – Joel Embiid scored a dagger three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left in overtime to lift the Philadelphia 76ers to a 104-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, taking a 3-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Embiid ended the game with 33 points and 13 rebounds. This was the Raptors’ first playoff action in Toronto for three years.

OG Anunoby scored 26 points for the Raptors who lead by as much as 17 points. Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points, a playoff record, despite being ill the week before.

Precious Achiuwa scored 20 points. Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam both had off nights. The Raptors had just 12 points each for their game, missing Scottie Barnes, the NBA rookie of year.

The Raptors quickly took a 17-point lead and looked like they were the team that had won 14 of the 18 remaining games. They shot 52.4 percent in the first period and pestered Philly to 15 turnovers.

However, the Raptors were flat in the final quarter. They shot just 1-for-7 behind the arc and, when Embiid attempted a free throw with 5.5 second remaining in the frame, the Sixers pulled within 75-74 with one quarter left.

VanVleet found Anunoby inside the corner for an easy long bomb. Achiuwa then scored on a putback to give Achiuwa a five-point lead with two minutes left.

Harden’s free throw with 49.7 seconds left tied the game. Harden, the former NBA MVP, was cheered off by the crowd 20 seconds later.

Achiuwa missed 27.2 seconds of the final period, but Toronto held strong on the defensive end to force an additional period.

Anunoby scored a clutch basket in the extra period. With 2:58 left, the shot clock sounded to give Philly a one-point advantage. But Embiid responded to get Philly back up. Embiid fouled Anunoby in 26.2 seconds. He scored on one of his free throws, while Doc Rivers, Sixers coach, raged at him.

Green inbound the ball with 2.6 seconds remaining and Embiid scored the winning goal to send Raptors fans home devastated.

The Raptors need reinforcements for Game 4. Barnes, who broke his left ankle in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, will play Saturday. The finalist for rookie of the year wasn’t wearing a walking boot on the bench Wednesday, and was on his feet cheering for much of the game.

The Raptors hadn’t made a playoff appearance in Toronto since Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, a one-point loss to Golden State that was memorable for Kevin Durant’s ruptured Achilles tendon.

COVID-19 made the 2020 season finish at Disneyworld’s NBA bubble. The Raptors were also exiled last season in Tampa, Fla. due to border restrictions. A COVID outbreak in March of last season saw them somersault down the standings to finish 12th, the only year they’ve missed the playoffs in the past nine seasons.

The 76ers won easily in Games 1 and 2 by scoring 131-11 and 112-97.

The Raptors led by 10 points early on Wednesday. Sixers were forced to make nine turnovers in just the first quarter. Philadelphia did not turn the ball over in Game 1.

Anunoby had 10 points and his three pointer with 31 seconds remaining sent the Raptors into the second half up 29-19.

Toronto opened the second with a 9-2 run to go up by 17 points, but the Sixers battled back and Harden’s driving layup with 1:40 left cut the difference to just six points.

There were many heated moments during the quarter. VanVleet received a whistle for a foul. A technical followed for angrily disputing Embiid’s call.

Green picked up a technical for arguing a call, and it took a couple of two-handed chest shoves from Harden to get Green to head toward Philadelphia’s bench.

Philadelphia would host Game 5 if needed.

This report was published by The Canadian Press on April 20, 2022.