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In what’s starting to sound like a damaged report at a time when Toronto’s precise gained/loss report continues to drop, the Raptors got here up brief.
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Towards Philly large man Joel Embiid, the Raptors did an honest job, no less than based mostly on how dominant Embiid has been taking part in.
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He nonetheless managed to publish a 30 and 10 recreation — factors and rebounding, respectively.
He bought assistance on this night time because the host Sixers merely outlasted and out-talented the Raptors, 121-111.
Scottie Barnes was surprisingly silent Friday night time, which started with the Raptors making some long-awaited noise to start the night.
On most nights, Embiid’s sidekick is Tyrese Maxie.
On this night time, it was veteran Tobias Harris who stepped up.
When the Sixers had been poised to increase a double-digit lead within the third quarter, the Raptors went with a zone defence that helped swing the sport’s momentum.
After three durations, Philly was main 93-89.
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Maxie emerged as the sport’s greatest participant within the fourth quarter, which started with Embiid on the bench.
Within the absence of their star participant, the Sixers managed to stretch their result in double figures.
When Embiid re-entered, Philly was main 113-100 with 4:50 remaining.
Philly’s Large 3 of Embiid, Maxie and Harris took turns taking up the sport.
As soon as once more, and cease in case you’ve heard this one earlier than, the Raptors had been good, however simply not ok.
When a number of gamers wanted to step up, so few did.
Embiid, Harris and Maxie every reached the 30-point mark.
The Raptors, merely put, are nowhere close to the category of this Sixers workforce, which has now gained all three conferences this season.
Philly outscored the Raptors by 18 factors from distance, a disparity that has but to be addressed and certain gained’t be addressed till some authentic shooters are acquired.
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Granted, Gary Trent Jr. did make 5 three-pointers, however the remainder of the workforce made solely three mixed.
Toronto held Embiid to 11 first-half factors.
He completed the night time one rebound and one help in need of a triple-double.
Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with a 31-point night time.
Barnes scored 12 factors on 3-for-11 capturing.
FABULOUS FIRST
Toronto’s opening-quarter woes have been effectively documented.
The workforce’s beginning lineup has been a supply of consternation amongst followers clamoring for a change.
The identical beginning 5 was again within the highlight at Wells Fargo Heart.
This time, the starters didn’t fall behind.
The truth is, the Raptors jumped out to their greatest begin in weeks.
Siakam led the best way and at one level had as many factors because the Sixers workforce.
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When the guests led by 15 with just below 5 minutes remaining, followers booed the Sixers.
Philly did get a scare when Embiid was briefly damage after he tried to defend Jakob Poeltl on a reverse layup.
Embiid’s sturdiness has been a difficulty up to now, however he has averted the damage bug this season.
Engaged defensively, environment friendly on offence, the Raptors had been the higher workforce within the recreation’s opening 12 minutes and had been effectively deserving of their 37-28 benefit.
Siakam by no means left the ground in netting 14 factors on seven discipline objectives.
He was in assault mode from the bounce as Siakam went to the road six occasions.
Poeltl added 10 factors.
The Raptors gained the opening quarter for the primary time since Nov. 29 when Phoenix was in Toronto.
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ROTATIONAL TWEAK
Whereas head coach Darko Rajakovic caught along with his beginning unit, he did make a refined change to his rotation.
When the second quarter started, Rajakovic had veteran stretch small ahead Otto Porter Jr. on the ground.
The one two starters within the recreation had been Barnes and O.G. Anunoby on a unit that additionally consisted of Trent Jr. and Treasured Achiuwa.
Toronto missed its first 5 photographs to start the quarter, which noticed the Sixers open the interval on a 7-0 run.
Porter Jr.’s three-point make ended Philly’s run and the Raptors’ drought.
His most up-to-date recreation motion was again on Dec. 8 when the Raptors had been in Charlotte when Porter Jr. performed 5 minutes and 43 seconds in a Toronto loss.
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ALL THAT JAZZ
Jamal Murray acquired a heat reception when the Kitchener native got here to city for the primary time as an NBA champion throughout Denver’s go to Wednesday night time.
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Kelly Olynyk, a staunch and constant member of Canada’s nationwide workforce, makes his return Saturday night time after he helped this system qualify for this summer season’s Paris Olympics when the Utah Jazz pay a go to to Scotiabank Area.
His dad coached at U of T, whereas Olynyk’s mother labored for the Raptors of their early years of the franchise as a part of the workforce’s stats crew and recreation operations.
The ground spacing Olynyk scored 27 factors, a season excessive, in Utah’s most up-to-date recreation performed Thursday when it prolonged Detroit’s shedding streak.
The Jazz performed with out 4 of its high seven scorers — Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Keyonte George and Talen Horton-Tucker.
Utah (11-18) additionally performed on the again finish of a back-to-back following a loss in Cleveland.
The workforce’s win in Motown was solely its third street victory this season.
Many of the discuss surrounding the Jazz entails commerce hypothesis.
Membership CEO Danny Ainge has by no means been reluctant to make strikes when strikes are required.
Names being bandied about in potential trades characteristic the likes of Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton.
By the best way, it was Ainge who engineered a draft-day commerce in 2013 with Dallas to land Olynyk in Boston after which re-acquired the Toronto native this low season in a take care of Detroit.
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