With a 110-102 triumph, Toronto overcomes an injury to Fred VanVleet and shrinks the first-round series deficit to 3-1.
The Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 110-102 on Saturday to escape a four-game sweep in their first-round playoff series. Pascal Siakam scored 15 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, Gary Trent Jr. added 24 points, and the Raptors avoided a four-game sweep.
The fifth and final game will be held in Philadelphia on Monday night.
No club has ever won an NBA playoff series after falling behind 3-0. After both coaches cleared their benches in the waning minutes, fans yelled “Raps in seven.”
Despite a right thumb injury that necessitated him to wear a brace, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid started. Several times, he was observed shaking his hand in anguish and doubling over as he held the region.
In the first half, Embiid was 3 for 10 from the field. In 39 minutes, he went 7 for 16 and scored 21 points.
Embiid is likely to undergo an MRI before Saturday’s game, according to 76ers Coach Doc Rivers. The Sixers are concerned about Embiid’s ailment, according to Rivers, but do not feel it will worsen if he plays.
As Toronto overcame an injury to All-Star guard Fred VanVleet, Thaddeus Young scored 13 points, OG Anunoby had 10, and freshly crowned NBA Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes had six points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
VanVleet ripped his jersey apart in disgust after being called for a foul with 4:57 left in the second quarter, and limped off the court to the locker room with a strained left hip. In 15 minutes, VanVleet shot 2 for 6 and scored five points.
For the 76ers, Tobias Harris had 15 points and 11 rebounds, while James Harden scored 22 points.
Siakam finished 10 for 19 from the field and 13 for 15 from the free-throw line after being kept scoreless in the second half of Toronto’s Game 3 loss.
