Toronto Gets Critical Game 4 Victory over Sixers
By: Yusuf House
PHILADELPHIA - The Toronto Raptors (2-2) regained homecourt advantage and tied the series at two games a piece. Toronto understood the importance of this game and put together a great team effort in Philly.
The Raptors were led by Kwhai Leonard who had another monster night, finishing with 39 points going 65% from the field. However, the key factor was the overall performance from the Raptors supporting cast that included Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol, Danny Green, and Kyle Lowry who combined for 53 points. Nick Nurse also presented a different lineup by playing Ibakaand Gasol at the same time. The Sixers struggled to adapt to the overall physical size of this Raptors lineup.
Toronto’s coach Nick Nurse commented after the game “Yeah, I think it was pretty obvious that we needed some punch around the roster a little bit. It looks like we got four other guys in double figures and another guy with nine [points], so that’s pretty good. I just thought it was a different mentality tonight than it was the other night. Guys were looking to shoot, taking the first shot that was there. When they’re putting two or three [players] on the ball, you’ve got to get off it. If you’re open, you’ve got to let it fly because there’s not anybody out there that we don’t want shooting the ball.”
Kawhi Leonard continued his incredible play and managed to close out the game down the stretch. Regardless if Ben Simmons or Jimmy Butler defended Kawhi he practically managed to get the shot that he wanted. None bigger than the three pointer that put Toronto ahead by 4 points with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter. This shot was setup following a turnover and an Embiid missed layup.
Following the game Leonard commented on that shot saying, “I really just came off a pick-and-roll and tried to stay aggressive, they ended up switching, Embiid is a good defender, long. So at the time I just looked up at the shot clock and tried to get as much space as possible and just took a shot and believed that it was going to go in and it did.”
The Sixers started the game scrappy and struggled to find an offensive rhythm. They found themselves down by 11 points in the first quarter and allowed Toronto to have a 13-0 run in the first quarter. Philly was led by Jimmy Butler who finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds. JJ Reddick and Tobias Harris scored 19 and 16 points respectively. Following an amazing game three Joel Embiid struggled mightily going 2 for 7 and finishing with 11 points also missing three straight free throws in the fourth quarter. Following the game Sixers coach Brett Brown stated that Embiid contacted him earlier that day and disclosed he was struggling with an illness.
Jimmy Butler commented on Embiid following the game saying: “We just want him to be aggressive. I mean, hell, if you are going to go 2-for-7, go 2-for-20, I’m with it. Like I said, we’re rocking with Jo. That’s what we need out of him, to always be aggressive. Moving forward, we expect the same thing. Go show why you’re so dominant, night in and night out on both ends of the floor. He’s a little bit sick, banged up, so we got a day to get him right.”
There were several stars in attendance including Sixer legend Julius Erving, former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and Eagles stars Jason Kelce, Zach Ertz, and Terrell Owens.
The series now shifts to Toronto on Tuesday for game 5.