The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors again on Monday, this time 112-97. The team led by Doc Rivers took another win at Wells Fargo Center and will travel to Canada by 2-0 in the NBA Series.
The 76ers were once again led by Joel Embiid, one of the three nominees for the 76th MLS Player of the Year award. Remember, Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) and Giannis Antetokonmo (Milwaukee Bucks) are also nominated for this award.
Embiid scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, showing all of his class in front of his fans.
Also, Sixers coach Doc Rivers earned his 100th win in post-season games.
The third game in this series will be Wednesday in Toronto.
Embiid was accompanied in attack by Therese Maxi with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, Tobias Harris with 20 boards and 10 boards and James Harden with 14 units, six rebounds and six assists.
“We have it all. We just have to put it on the floor,” Embiid said after the win. “We have to keep playing like before. We know what we have to do. We just have to do it.”
Embiid was upset with his team’s 14 turnovers, but was pleased with his physical match as the Sixers outperformed the Raptors 41-35.
He added, “The last two games we were physical, dribbling the ball well, we got second chances. We didn’t do a good job looking after the ball. We have to do better in the next game.”
The Cameroonian center, a strong contender to be chosen as the player of the season, had another good performance in the first match, especially under the boards, where he got 15 rebounds.
Toronto on Monday had led 11-2 in the first quarter, but the Sixers advanced in the second, expanding the margin to 67-52 in the first half.
In the third set, the Canadian quintet, who is led by 26 points from Britain’s OG Anunoby and 20 points each by Cameroonian Pascal Siakam and Fred Vanfleet, reduced his delay in the last minutes but did not question the Sixers’ victory.
Embiid injured his right elbow at the end of the third quarter, but continued until the end of the match.
“It was very painful,” Embiid stressed. “But it’s the playoffs. I have to fight.”
Toronto’s Scotty Barnes was unable to play on Monday due to an ankle injury he picked up in the final quarter of Saturday’s game.
