There was a moment in the second half of this signature Miami Heat night, this beautiful Thursday night, when the television camera swung to a seated Pat Riley, who arched his neck and lifted his chin and offered the angular idea of an eagle surveying his constructed world. What was it the poet wrote, about…
Erik Spoelstra said Coach Kyle might be taking things past the point of comfort for Kyle Lowry. But, yes, the Miami Heat coach said he is particularly comfortable having the veteran point guard alongside while sidelined by a hamstring strain. 630 more words
Kyle Lowry was back, and back home. The next step for the Miami Heat point guard and Philadelphia native is getting back to being himself. Sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring strain, Lowry clearly was less than himself in the 99-79 Friday night road loss to the Philadelphia 76ers that trimmed the Heat’s lead…
The notion that it would be easy with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid being out was misguided from the outset. Especially when considering the Miami Heat remained without Kyle Lowry. 1,018 more words
KEY RUN Leading 82-81 at the 10:35 mark in the fourth quarter, the Raptors went on a 19-6 run to extend their lead to its largest of the game (101-87) with 3:28 remaining … Pascal Siakam led the way for Toronto with 15 points in the fourth quarter.
KEY STAT Toronto forced 16 Philadelphia turnovers leading to a 22-to-3 advantage in points off turnovers … Through four games, the Raptors have scored 70 points off Sixers’ turnovers.
RAPTORS NOTES: • With the win, Toronto now trails the first round series 3-1 … Game five will be played Monday night in Philadelphia. • Pascal Siakam finished with a postseason career-high 34 points and added eight rebounds and five assists in 44 minutes … Siakam has scored 30-or-more in the postseason three times in his career and the Raptors are 3-0 in these games … Siakam has recorded 20+ points in three of four games this series (Apr. 16-23), averaging a team-high 22.5 points while shooting .438 (32-73) from the field. • Gary Trent Jr. recorded a playoff career high-tying 24 points in 39 minutes … Trent Jr. has scored 48 points in the last two games combined after recording just nine through Games 1 & 2. • The Raptors bench outscored Philadelphia’s reserves 36-27 … Thaddeus Young led the way for Toronto, scoring 13 points, while adding five rebounds and five assists. • Scottie Barnes collected a team-high 11 rebounds and added six points in 26 minutes off the bench … Barnes returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with a sprained left ankle … Barnes joins Jamario Moon (Apr. 24, 2008) as one of just two rookies in franchise history to collect 10+ rebounds in a playoff game.
76ERS NOTES: • With the loss, Philadelphia now leads the series 3-1 … Game five will be played Monday night in Philadelphia. • Tobias Harris finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double (Apr. 18-23) … During this stretch Harris is averaging 15.3 points and 11.0 rebounds, while shooting .563 (18-32) from the field. • James Harden recorded 22 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 42 minutes … Through four games this series, Harden is averaging a team-high 9.8 assists … He has totaled a league-best 39 assists during the postseason. • Joel Embiid scored 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes … Embiid has scored 20+ points in three consecutive games, averaging a team-high 28.3 points and shooting .538 (28-52) from the field during this stretch. •
= 2021-22 SEASON-SERIES 2021-22 PLAYOFFS DATE SITE RESULT DATE SITE RESULT 11/10/2021 Philadelphia W 115-109 04/16/2022 Philadelphia L 131-11 12/28/2021 Toronto L 114-109 04/18/2022 Philadelphia L 112-97 03/20/2022 Philadelphia W 93-88 04/20/2022 Toronto L 104-101 (OT) 04/07/2022 Toronto W 119-114 04/23/2022 Toronto W 110-102
ALL-TIME RECORDS RAPTORS WINS 76ERS WINS Overall: 61 42 at Toronto: 33 18 at Philadelphia: 28 24
• 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
GAME #71 – TORONTO RAPTORS (39-31) at PHILADELPHIA 76ers (43-26) SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2022 – 7:30 P.M. (ET) – WELLS FARGO CENTER TV: SPORTSNET – RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN
INJURY REPORTAT 5:30 P.M.
TOR@PHI
Philadelphia 76ers
Bassey, Charles Out G League – On Assignment Brown Jr., Charlie Out G League – Two-Way Embiid, Joel Questionable Injury/Illness – Back; Soreness Powell, Myles Out G League – Two-Way Springer, Jaden Out Injury/Illness – Left Groin; Soreness / G League Assignment
Toronto Raptors
Anunoby, OG Out Injury/Illness – Right Hand; Ring Finger – Fracture Bonga, Isaac Out G League – On Assignment Champagnie, Justin Out G League – Two-Way Flynn, Malachi Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Strain Johnson, David Out G League – Two-Way VanVleet, Fred Out Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Injury Management
• The Toronto Raptors (39-31) play the first game of a back-to-back set Sunday night against the Philadelphia 76ers (43-26) at Wells Fargo Center. The Raptors visit Chicago on Monday. Toronto’s win streak ended at five on Friday after losing 128-123 in overtime to the LA Lakers. Scottie Barnes set career-highs with 31 points and 17 rebounds, Gary Trent Jr. scored 23 points and Fred VanVleet had 20. The Raptors are now 1.0 game behind Cleveland for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Toronto and Philadelphia have split the first two meetings this season, with the road team winning both contests. • Scottie Barnes earned his 11th double-double of the season with career highs of 31 points and 17 rebounds Friday against the Lakers. He added six assists in 42 minutes. Barnes became the first rookie since Blake Griffin (March 23, 2011) to record 30+ points, 15+ rebounds and 5+ assists in a game. His 31 points also tied Vince Carter’s Raptors rookie record for the most scored in a double-double. Carter had 31 points and 11 rebounds as a rookie Apr. 1, 1999 vs. Indiana. • Pascal Siakam is averaging 21.9 points, and career bests of 8.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists, in 57 games this season. Siakam is one of just seven players in the NBA averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Dejounte Murray and Julius Randle. No Raptor has averaged 20-8-5 over the course of an entire season. • Precious Achiuwa had 18 points and five rebounds off the bench Friday against the Lakers. Achiuwa has now scored in double figures in a career-high six straight games (Mar. 9-18). He is averaging 13.0 points and shooting .484 (30-62) from the field, including .444 (12-27) from three, during this stretch. Achiuwa is shooting .362 (38-105) from beyond the arc this season after attempting just one three-pointer as a rookie. • The Raptors outrebounded the Lakers 46-43 on Friday night, including 16-13 on the offensive glass. Toronto (13.4) currently ranks second in the NBA in offensive boards and has +54 (152-98) advantage on the offensive glass through 10 games in March. • Scottie Barnes has scored 20+ points 17 times this season – the most by a Raptors rookie since Vince Carter did it 23 times during the 1998-99 season. Barnes leads all rookies this year having tallied 20+ points and 5+ rebounds in 17 games. Since the All-Star break, Barnes is averaging 19.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and has scored 20-or-more eight times in 13 contests. • Toronto scored 27 fast break points Friday night, while holding the Lakers to just 11. The Raptors (15.6) currently rank third in the league in fast break points. • Gary Trent Jr. finished with 23 points in 41 minutes Friday against the Lakers. Trent Jr. has now scored 20+ points 24 times this season, something he did 23 times in his first three years (2018-21) combined.
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4 • Recorded career highs of 31 points and 17 rebounds Mar. 18 vs. the LA Lakers; added six assists in 42 minutes. • Leads all rookies in minutes (35.7), ranks third in scoring (15.5) and rebounds (7.6), and fourth in assists (3.4). • Has scored 20+ points in three of the last four games (Mar. 12-18), averaging 23.0 points during this span. F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43 • Finished with 17 points, six rebounds and seven assists in 46 minutes Mar. 18 vs. the LA Lakers. • Leads the Raptors with a career-best 23 double-doubles this season. • Averaging 25.7 points and shooting .505 (95-188) from the field through 10 games in March. C – KHEM BIRCH #24 • Contributed two points, three rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes Mar. 18 vs. the LA Lakers. • Has scored in double figures four times this season (Last: 11 – Mar. 1 vs. Brooklyn). • Averaging 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 18.7 minutes in 19 games as a starter this season. G – GARY TRENT JR. #33 • Scored 23 points Mar. 18 vs. the LA Lakers; added three rebounds and three assists in 41 minutes. • Ranks third in the NBA in both steals (1.80) and total deflections (218). • Averaging 20.8 points and shooting .400 (108-270) from beyond the arc in 32 road games this season. G – FRED VANVLEET #23 • Finished with 20 points, three rebounds and seven assists in 47 minutes Mar. 18 vs. the LA Lakers. • Leads the NBA in minutes (38.2), ranks second in deflections (222) and third in three-pointers (220). • Needs 18 three-pointers to tie Kyle Lowry’s single-season franchise record of 238 made threes (2017-18).
2021-22 RECORDS W-L EAST WEST OVERALL 39-31 23-19 16-12 HOME 17-16 11-9 6-7 AWAY 22-15 12-10 10-5 OVERTIME 2-2 2-1 0-1
GAME DETAILS Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers Date: Sunday, March 20 Tip-Off: 8:30 p.m. (ET) Venue: Wells Fargo Center Television: Sportsnet Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN SERIES RECAP VS. PHILADELPHIA OVERALL HOME ROAD 2021-22 1-1 0-1 1-0 ALL-TIME 59-42 32-18 27-24 STREAKS Lost 1 Lost 2 Won 1 LAST WIN: Nov. 11, 2021 (115-109) LAST ROAD WIN: Nov. 11, 2021 (115-109) LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +34 (Oct. 21, 2017) LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -35 (Jan. 7, 2012) LAST TIME VS. PHILADELPHIA 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, but the depleted Raptors lost their second straight … Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr. and Malachi Flynn returned for Toronto after being among the 10 players to miss Sunday’s 144-99 loss at Cleveland because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols … Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Isaac Bonga, and Justin Champagnie remain in the protocols … 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 that was fueled by eight straight points from Georges Niang … 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 … … Philadelphia led 55-48 at halftime. 1 2 3 4 TOT PHILADELPHIA 27 28 30 29 114 TORONTO 24 24 33 28 109