Sixers stay hot, earn OT escape thriller over Raptors

December 21 ------ Joel Embiid had 28 points and 11 rebounds, Tobias Harris added 21 points and the host Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Toronto Raptors 104-101 in overtime on Monday (Tuesday, December 20, Manila time). James Harden contributed 14 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Sixers, who won their fifth game in a row.

Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with a season-high 38 points to go along with 15 rebounds and six assists. O.G. Anunoby returned from a four-game absence to score 13 points and reserve Chris Boucher had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors, who lost their sixth straight game. When Boucher hit a step-back trey with 8:45 left in the fourth, the Raptors held an 86-79 advantage.

Embiid’s short jumper with 5:52 remaining cut the deficit to 92-88. Thaddeus Young drove to the basket and scored two Toronto possessions later. De’Anthony Melton hit a trey from the corner, Embiid knocked down a pair of free throws and Harden made a layup to cap a 10-0 run, and the Sixers led 99-96 with 1:32 left. Siakam hit 1 of 2 free throws and then tied the game at 99 on a difficult bank shot with 5.1 seconds to go. Embiid missed a 23-foot jumper at the buzzer to force overtime.

Both teams struggled offensively in the extra period. Harris’ trey with 2:12 remaining gave the Sixers a 104-101 lead. That advantage held up until the last possession, as Siakam missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

After the Sixers built a 14-point lead, the Raptors quickly closed within nine on a basket in the lane by Young and a 3-pointer by Anunoby with 5:37 left in the second quarter. The Sixers went ahead 57-46 at halftime thanks in large part to 12 points from Embiid and 10 from Harris. After Toronto cut the deficit to 62-56, the Sixers proceeded to go on a 7-0 run for a 13-point advantage with 7:20 remaining in the third. A technical foul on Georges Niang followed by Siakam’s trey helped fuel an 11-0 spurt to tie the game at 78 by the end of the third.

Source: rappler.com