• The Toronto Raptors continue their first round playoff series Wednesday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors dropped Game 2, 112-97, on Monday in Philadelphia. OG Anunoby led Toronto with a postseason career-high 26 points (10-14 FG, 4-7 3PT, 2-2 FT) in 38 minutes after matching his then playoff career best with 20 points in Game 1. Through two games, Anunoby is averaging a team-high 23.0 points and shooting .655 (19-29) from the field. • Pascal Siakam finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in Game 2 at Philadelphia. With his first basket, Siakam (752) moved into third place on the Raptors’ all-time postseason scoring list – behind only Kyle Lowry (1,435) and DeMar DeRozan (1,117). Siakam has now scored 20+ points in six straight games played (Apr. 3-18), averaging 28.3 points during this stretch. • This series marks the third time Toronto and Philadelphia have met in the playoffs. The previous two series both went seven games. The 76ers edged out Toronto in second round in 2001, while the Raptors prevailed in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2019 en route to the franchise’s first NBA title. Four players remain from Toronto’s 2019 roster – OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. • Chris Boucher recorded postseason career highs of 17 points and eight rebounds, including six offensive boards, in 30 minutes off the bench in Game 2. Boucher became just the third Raptors reserve to grab five or more offensive rebounds in a playoff game, joining Bismack Biyombo (Apr. 29, 2016 at Indiana) and Jerome Williams (May 9, 2001 at Philadelphia). Boucher topped all reserves in the NBA during the regular season with 155 offensive rebounds. • Toronto won three of four regular season games against Philadelphia this season. Pascal Siakam averaged a team-high 30.3 points and shot .507 (35-69) from the field in three games vs. the Sixers this year. He recorded his third career triple-double Apr. 7 with 37 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. In four regular season games, Toronto outrebounded Philadelphia 187-158 (+29), including 57-28 on the offensive end (+29). Reserve Chris Boucher led the attack on the glass averaging 10.5 rebounds. • Pascal Siakam averaged 22.8 points, and career bests of 8.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists, in 68 games this season. Siakam was one of just five players in the NBA to average at least 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic. • Toronto ranked second in the NBA in offensive rebounds (13.4) and second chance points (16.5) this season. The Raptors had five different players collected more than 100 offensive rebounds: Scottie Barnes (195), Chris Boucher (179), Precious Achiuwa (146), Pascal Siakam (128) & Khem Birch (122). • Fred VanVleet earned his first All-Star selection, becoming the first undrafted All-Star since Ben Wallace in 2006. VanVleet averaged career highs of 20.3 points, 6.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 65 games. He is averaging 19.0 points, 6.5 assists and 2.0 steals through two games against the Sixers. PROBABLE STARTERS F – OG ANUNOBY #3 • Averaged a career-high 17.1 points and shot .363 (115-317) from three-point range in 48 games this season. • Scored 20+ points in 19 games; something he did 13 times in 43 games last season. • Missed three-of-four meetings against the Sixers this year. F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43 • Recorded a career-high 30 double-doubles – the most by a Raptor since Chris Bosh (49) in 2009-10. • Ranked 15th in the NBA in scoring; Toronto was 12-2 when he scored 30+ points. • Became first player in franchise history to averaged 22+ points, 8+ rebounds and 5+ assists for an entire season. C – SCOTTIE BARNES #4 • Was the only rookie to rank in the top-five in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes. • Scored 20+ points in 17 games this season – the most by a Raptors rookie since Vince Carter (23) in 1998-99. • Led the Raptors with a franchise rookie record 195 offensive rebounds (15th in the NBA). G – GARY TRENT JR. #33 • Ranked third in the NBA in steals per game, fifth in total deflections (237) and 17th in three-pointers made (209). • Matched his career high with five steals six times (last: Feb. 28 at Brooklyn). • Scored 30+ points in five straight games (Jan. 25 – Feb. 1), tying the franchise record set by DeMar DeRozan. G – FRED VANVLEET #23 • Was the first undrafted player to be named an All-Star since Ben Wallace in 2006. • Ranked sixth in the NBA in steals per game, second in total deflections (254) and third in threes (240). • Set the single-season franchise record for made three-pointers
The Chicago Bulls defense stood out in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks, holding the reigning NBA champions 22.5 points below their regular-season average despite the 93-86 loss. Coach Billy Donovan believes this level of physical buy-in is“ just the price of admission” for guarding the Bucks. “You don’ t do that, you have no…
First-round NBA playoff games have a few different potential television destinations. Most first-round games are aired on each team’s respective regional sports network — hence why you can catch every Timberwolves-Grizzlies game on Bally Sports North this series, if you have it. Then there’s the national broadcasts. The games deemed to be the most attractive […]
The Timberwolves made 16 three-point shots in Saturday’s NBA playoff victory in Memphis, while the Grizzlies hit just seven. That’s 27 additional points in Minnesota’s column before considering anything else that takes place on the floor. The math problem that befuddled the Timberwolves’ organization for the better part of a decade is working distinctly in…
MEMPHIS — The Timberwolves got off to a lightning-quick start in their NBA playoff opener Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies, opening up a 9-2 lead on the strength of an Anthony Edwards surge just moments into the game, causing the Grizzlies to call timeout. Immediately after that whistle, veteran Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley looked at […]
BOSTON — Offensive rebounds, turnovers, poor transition defense, and touches for Seth Curry, all underscored by a particularly poor shooting night for Kevin Durant. The film from the Nets’ one-point, buzzer-beating defeat in Game 1 shows a team that fought hard for about 44 minutes. But a three-minute stretch at the top of the third…
SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors needed just four minutes to win. All it took was a lineup they’d never used. Of course, that lineup featured Golden State’s Big 3 — Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. 767 more words
Lucky number eleven? The Knicks draft lottery position moved up a spot and is set at No. 11 after the Clippers lost Friday night to the Pelicans in the final play-in game. It means the Knicks have a two percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick and a decent 9.4% chance of cracking the…
• The Toronto Raptors begin the 2022 NBA Playoffs on Saturday night against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Raptors (48-34) won 14 of their last 18 games (Mar. 9 – Apr. 10) to finish in fifth place in the East. Toronto has qualified for the postseason the eighth time in the last nine seasons. • This series marks the third time Toronto and Philadelphia will meet in the playoffs. The previous two series oth went seven games. The 76ers edged out Toronto in second round in 2001, while the Raptors prevailed in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2019 en route to the franchise’s first NBA title. Four players remain from Toronto’s 2019 roster – OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. The Sixers have three players left from the 2019 series – Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Furkan Korkmaz. • Toronto won three of four games against Philadelphia this season. Pascal Siakam averaged a team-high 30.3 points and shot .507 (35-69) from the field in three games vs. the Sixers this year. He recorded his third career triple-double in the most recent meeting (Apr. 7) with 37 point, 11 rebound and 12 assists. In four games this year, Toronto has outrebounded Philadelphia 187-158 (+29), including 57-28 on the offensive glass (+29). Reserve Chris Boucher has led the attack on the boards averaging 10.5 rebounds. • The Raptors ranked first in the NBA in deflections (17.6) and second in steals (9.0) this season. The backcourt duo of Gary Trent Jr. (1.74) and Fred VanVleet (1.71) ranked third and fifth, respectively, in steals. They both also ranked in the top-five in total deflections. • Pascal Siakam averaged 22.8 points, and career bests of 8.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists, in 68 games this season. Siakam was one of just five players in the NBA to average at least 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Nikola Jokic. • Pascal Siakam recorded a career-best 30 double-doubles this year. He joined Chris Bosh (five times), Antonio Davis (twice), Donyell Marshall and Damon Stoudamire (twice) as the only Raptors to have 30 or more double-doubles in a single season. • Rookie Scottie Barnes was the only NBA rookie this season – and first in franchise history – to record 1000+ points, 500+ rebounds and 250+ assists. Only three other rookies have totaled 1000/500/250 in last 20 years – Luka Doncic (2018-19), Ben Simmons (2017-18) and Blake Griffin (2010-11). • Toronto ranked second in the NBA in both offensive rebounds (13.4) and second chance points (16.5) this season. The Raptors had five different players collected more than 100 offensive rebounds: Scottie Barnes (195), Chris Boucher (179), Precious Achiuwa (146), Pascal Siakam (128) and Khem Birch (122). Barnes led all rookie in offensive rebounds, while Boucher topped all reserves in the NBA with 155. • Fred VanVleet earned his first All-Star selection, becoming the first undrafted All-Star since Ben Wallace in 2006. VanVleet averaged career highs of 20.3 points, 6.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 65 games. The Raptors were 7-1 this year when he scored 30 or more points. PROBABLE STARTERS F – OG ANUNOBY #3 • Averaged a career-high 17.1 points and shot .363 (115-317) from three-point range in 48 games this season. • Scored 20+ points in 19 games; something he did 13 times in 43 games last season. • Missed three-of-four meetings against the Sixers this year. F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4 • Was the only rookie to rank in the top-five in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes. • Scored 20+ points in 17 games this season – the most by a Raptors rookie since Vince Carter (23) in 1998-99. • Led the Raptors with a franchise rookie record 195 offensive rebounds (15th in the NBA). C – PASCAL SIAKAM #43 • Recorded a career-high 30 double-doubles – the most by a Raptor since Chris Bosh (49) in 2009-10. • Ranked 15th in the NBA in scoring; Toronto was 12-2 when he scored 30+ points. • First player in franchise history to averaged 22+ points, 8+ rebounds and 5+ assists for an entire season. G – GARY TRENT JR. #33 • Ranked third in the NBA in steals per game, fifth in total deflections (237) and 17th in three-pointers made (209). • Matched his career high with five steals six times (last: Feb. 28 at Brooklyn). • Scored 30+ points in five straight games (Jan. 25 – Feb. 1), tying the franchise record set by DeMar DeRozan. G – FRED VANVLEET #23 • Was the first undrafted player to be named an All-Star since Ben Wallace in 2006. • Ranked sixth in the NBA in steals per game, second in total deflections (254) and third in threes (240). • Set the single-season franchise record for made three-pointers.
IES RECAP VS. PHILADELPHIA OVERALL HOME ROAD 2021-22 3-1 1-1 2-0 ALL-TIME 61-42 33-18 28-24 STREAKS Won 2 Won 1 Won 2 PLAYOFFS 7-7 5-2 2-5 LAST WIN: Apr. 7, 2022 (119-114) LAST ROAD WIN: Mar. 20, 2022 (93-88) LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +36 (May. 7, 2019) LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -35 (Jan. 7, 2012) SERIES SCHEDULE DATE LOCATION TIME TV / RADIO
SERIES RECAP VS. PHILADELPHIA GAME 80 – APRIL 7, 2022 TORONTO 119, PHILADELPHIA 114 TORONTO — Pascal Siakam had 37 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his third career triple-double, Gary Trent Jr. scored 30 points and the Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-114 … Siakam shot 14 for 28, going 1 for 7 from 3-point range … He made 8 of 10 free throws … Precious Achiuwa scored 20 points and made a career-high five 3-pointers, and Scottie Barnes had 13 points and 10 rebounds … Joel Embiid had 30 points and 10 rebounds, and James Harden had 13 points and 15 assists for the 76ers … Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points, and Danny Green shot 6 for 7 from 3-point range and scored 18 points for Philadelphia … The 76ers trailed 106-102 after Green connected from 3 with 3:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Trent scored five points as Toronto answered with a 9-5 run … A steal by Siakam led to a driving dunk for Barnes with 1:30 left, putting the Raptors up 115-107 … Philadelphia led 60-56 at the intermission … Siakam scored 15 points in the third and Trent added nine to give the Raptors an 87-85 lead after three quarters. 1 2 3 4 TOT PHILADELPHIA 33 27 25 29 114 TORONTO 26 30 31 32 119 GAME 71 – MARCH 20, 2022 TORONTO 93, PHILADELPHIA 88 PHILADELPHIA — Pascal Siakam had 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Precious Achiuwa scored 21 points to lead Toronto to a 93-88 win over Philadelphia … Chris Boucher had 12 points and 14 rebounds to help the Raptors extend their road winning streak to six … James Harden missed two free throws with the Sixers down 87-86 and missed a driving layup with 59 seconds left and the Sixers down 89-86 … The Sixers had the ball with 37.3 seconds left and Joel Embiid lost the ball for a costly turnover … Scottie Barnes missed two free throws that kept Toronto’s lead at 90-88 with 7.1 seconds left … Harden, though, missed again when he was whistled for an offensive foul against Boucher on a drive down the lane that crushed the Sixers’ comeback bid … The Raptors had a whopping 20 offensive rebounds and held an overall 56-40 edge on the glass … Embiid had 21 points and 13 rebounds for Philadelphia … He shot only 6 of 20 overall from the floor and missed all three 3-pointers … Tyrese Maxey scored 19 points and Harden had 17. 1 2 3 4 TOT TORONTO 27 30 12 24 93 PHILADELPHIA 37 17 20 14 88 GAME 31 – DECEMBER 28, 2021 PHILADELPHIA 114, TORONTO 109 TORONTO — Tobias Harris had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, Joel Embiid finished with 36 points and 11 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers hung on to beat the Toronto Raptors 114-109 … Chris Boucher scored a season-high 28 points and matched his career high with 19 rebounds … Siakam scored 28 points while Trent had 19 … After Toronto took a 78-76 lead on Svi Mykhailiuk’s 3-pointer with 2:02 left in the third, the 76ers responded with a 19-5 run, including a 10-2 spurt to begin the fourth … The Raptors battled back, and Trent hit a 3-pointer with 1:41 remaining to put Toronto up 107-106 … But Harris was fouled after grabbing the rebound on Trent’s miss with 21 seconds left, and made two more from the line to put the Sixers up 112-109 … Toronto missed a chance to take a tying shot when Trent turned the ball over with six seconds left. 1 2 3 4 TOT PHILADELPHIA 27 28 30 29 114 TORONTO 24 24 33 28 109 GAME 13 – NOVEMBER 11, 2021 TORONTO 115, PHILADELPHIA 109 PHILADELPHIA — Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet hit back-to-back 3- pointers over the final 1:10 to lift the Raptors past the Philadelphia 76ers, 115- 109 … VanVleet hit six 3s and scored 32 points, and Trent added 20 … The Sixers have lost three straight games … Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points for Philadelphia … Andre Drummond had put the Sixers ahead 109-107 with 1:44 left and then followed with a blocked shot on the next possession … Trent, though, hit the 3 with 1:10 left that put the Raptors ahead … The Raptors led most of the fourth quarter until the Sixers went on a late run … Shake Milton hit a 3 and his baseline drive cut it to 92-89 before Tobias Harris scored to bring the Sixers within one … VanVleet and Svi Mykhailiuk, though, each buried 3- pointers that stretched the lead and OG Anunoby dunked off a turnover … Anunoby then hit a 3, one of 14 for the Raptors …Anunoby also scored 20 points … Toronto trailed 57-52 at halftime. 1 2 3 4 TOT TORONTO 27 25 29 34 115 PHILADELPHIA 30 27 21 31 10
Postgame Notes for Friday, April 15, 2022 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (4-4) at TORONTO BLUE JAYS (5-3) R H E LOB Win: Cimber (3-0) OAKLAND 1 6 0 5 Loss: Jefferies (0-1) TORONTO 4 11 0 10 Save: Romano (5) First Pitch: 7:08 pm One-Run Games: 1-0 Temperature: 20°C/68°F Last Pitch: 10:08 pm Extra-Inning Games: 0-0 Wind: N/A Game Time 3:00 Comeback Wins: 2 Attendance: 35,415 BLUE JAYS NOTES: • Improved to 5-3 on the season and 3-1 at home…Extended their winning streak over the Athletics to six games, dating back to last season…Have gone 12-2 against Oakland since the start of 2019…Are now 28- 12 since returning to Rogers Centre on 7/30/20…Blue Jay batters combined to notch a season-high 11 hits while striking out a season-low five times. • ROSS STRIPLING surrendered just two hits over 4.0 shutout innings in his first start (3rd appearance) of the year, striking out three batters while walking none…In his first start of every season, Stripling has combined to fashion a 2.38 ERA (9 ER/34.0 IP). • VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR. opened the scoring with his MLB-leading 5th home run of the season, a solo shot in the bottom of the 1st…Tied Carlos Delgado (1994, 2001) and Vernon Wells (2010) for the most homers in the team’s first eight games of a season…Also singled in the 3rd and was intentionally walked in the 7th, finishing the game 2-for-3, his 4th multi-hit game of the season. • LOURDES GURRIEL JR. singled, doubled, and walked, going 2-for-3 on the night with an RBI…Was his first multi-hit game of the year…Has hit safely in six of eight games this season. • SANTIAGO ESPINAL plated a run with a double in the 2nd inning, his 3rd RBI double of the season…Snapped a 0-for-10 hitless streak…Was intentionally walked in the 6th for the first time in his career. • RAIMEL TAPIA singled in the 2nd and 4th innings, finishing the night 2-for-2…Marked his first multi-hit game as a Blue Jay. • ZACK COLLINS notched his first hit in a Toronto uniform, doubling to the right field corner in the bottom of the 4th inning…Drove in a run with a single in the 6th, marking his first multi-hit effort of the season. • JORDAN ROMANO pitched a scoreless 9th inning (2K) to pick up his MLB-leading 5th save of the season…Has converted 28 consecutive save opportunities, dating back to last season, the longest streak in franchise history (Tom Henke – 25 in 1991) and currently the longest active streak in the Majors…Joined Duane Ward (1993) as the only players in club history to pick up five saves in the first eight team games of a season. • ADAM CIMBER tossed 1.2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit while striking out three batters and walking none…Earned his MLB-leading 3rd win of the season, matching his win total from last year…The three wins tied him with Casey Janssen (2010) and Bill Caudill (1985) for the most by a Toronto pitcher in the team’s first eight games of a season. ATHLETICS NOTES: • Slipped to an even 4-4 on the year, losing for the sixth straight time to the Blue Jays, dating back to last season…Scored a season-low one run on six hits. • DAULTON JEFFERIES made his 4th career MLB start, giving up two runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings with a walk and a pair of strikeouts…Tossed 63 pitches while tying a career-high with 45 strikes. • KEVIN SMITH doubled in the 3rd and singled in the 5th, going 2-for-3 on the night…Marked his first career multi-hit effort in his 26th career big league game…Made his MLB debut for the Blue Jays on 8/18/21 at WAS before being dealt to the A’s in a package for Matt Chapman last month. • CHAD PINDER drove in Oakland’s first run of the game with a pinch-hit single in the 6th inning…Now batting .295 (49-for-166) with 10 home runs and 25 RBI in 55 career April games, his highest batting average of any month. HOME RUNS # Outs Type Field Count Off Inning Score Before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 5 2 1R RCF 2-2 Jefferies 1st 0-0 UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS: (All Times Eastern) Saturday, April 16 vs. Oakland Athletics, 3:07 pm…LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (0-0, 16.20) vs. RHP Paul Blackburn (1-0, 0.00) Sunday, April 17 vs. Oakland Athletics, 1:37 pm…RHP Alek Manoah (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Adam Oller (0-0, 33
The view from left field 