76ers have too many scorers for Raptors to keep up

Tyrese Maxey had 33 points and 10 assists and Tobias Harris scored a season-best 33 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 7 assists to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers past the Toronto Raptors, 121-111, on Friday, December 22 (Saturday, December 23, Manila time).

Joel Embiid scored 31 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out 9 assists for the Sixers, who have won eight of nine.

It was the 13th consecutive game that Embiid produced at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.

The other time the franchise had three players with at least 30 points in the same game was in 1961 when Dick Barnett, Hal Greer, and Dolph Schayes hit that threshold for the Syracuse Nationals.

Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 31 points, Jakob Poeltl added 19, and Gary Trent Jr. had 17. OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes chipped in with 12 each.

The Sixers ripped off a quick 6-0 spurt to open the fourth quarter for a 99-89 lead.

Harris threw down a two-handed dunk for a 103-91 advantage with 8:33 remaining.

Toronto scored the next 5 points, including the fifth three-pointer by Trent, to close within 103-96.

Philadelphia came right back with a 7-0 run, capped by a deep trey by Maxey, for a 110-96 lead with 6:26 left.

When Embiid knocked down a three-pointer with 3:45 remaining, the Sixers led 116-100.

The Raptors, who had built an early 15-point lead, went ahead 53-48 with 3:51 left in the second quarter after a layup by Poeltl.

When Harris dropped in a three-pointer – his fourth of the half – with 2:41 remaining, the game was tied at 54.

The Sixers led 61-58 at halftime thanks in large part to 24 points from Harris.

Siakam paced the Raptors with 17.

Anunoby hit a 15-foot jump shot with 8:26 left in the third to close within 68-64.

Maxey then knocked down a short jumper and Kelly Oubre Jr. made a three-pointer as the Sixers pulled ahead by 9 points, 73-64.

Embiid hit a trey from the wing with 3:19 to go in the third and the Sixers held a 90-77 advantage.

Trent made a three-pointer from the corner with 59 seconds left to cut the deficit to 92-87.

The Sixers led 93-89 at the end of the third after Toronto closed on a 9-1 run. – Rappler.com