As far as wild finishes go, Wednesday’s game could take the cake.
Joel Embiid’s three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left in overtime – with a foul by James Harden – handed the Sixers a 104-101 win over the Raptors at ScotiaBank Arena. The Sixers now comfortably lead 3-0 and have a chance to end Toronto’s season on Saturday afternoon.
A great shot in Toronto in the postseason? How random. cast out demons.
Let’s recap an absolutely insane game.
first quarter
- It should come as no surprise that the Raptors came out with their hair on fire. Joel Embiid turned it over on his first touch and Tyrese Maxey had a turnover a few possessions later. Nurturing basketball has helped the Sixers to a 2-0 lead.
- This is where James Harden is so valuable compared to a non-traditional point guard in the past. He really sorted things out. Toronto scored the first six points of the game before Harden hit a three and then drew a couple of fouls.
- The Raptors didn’t smother Embiid like that and it’s almost like he’s not used to it. Two early turnovers.
- Man, Raptors fans are in a bad mood. Towards the end of the first quarter, there’s a loud “F—Embiid” chant…because she did a great job pissing Embiid off in Game 2.
- Excellent ball movement now that the Sixers are settling in. These corners are open all night. Sixers shooters just have to keep shooting.
- Sixers already up to six turnovers. That’s the main reason why they are down 23-15.
- A brutal first quarter by the Sixers. Nine turnovers, four from Embiid. The Raptors don’t seem to be doing anything crazy — if anything, it feels like the extra defenders came to Embiid late instead of early. Between the turnovers and three offensive rebounds, Toronto made eight more shots. The looks are there as the Sixers hit 5 of 9 from three. You only have to take care of the basketball. They’re 29-19 behind – it would have been 31 but Embiid closed the quarter with an emphatic block of an OG Anunoby layup attempt on the buzzer.
second quarter
- Good for Nick Nurse. Many fouls were called against the Sixers.
- Now the Raptors can’t miss. Pascal Siakam gets going as Toronto starts the third with a 9-2 run to extend their lead to 38-21. Sixers really need to wake up here.
- Sixers go in the zone. First possession, Paul Reed brushes off Siakam and it leads to a fast break layup by Maxey. We’ll see if it remains a viable option.
- The Sixers get some help from officials when Embiid chased a loose ball and then was gently pushed by Fred VanVleet. It’s a soft foul, but it was called. VanVleet was then assessed with a technical argument for reasoning. Maxey took the free throw and then Harden nailed a three back. It ends with a potentially big four-point possession that cuts the Raptors’ lead from 17 to eight, 45-37. Harden with a team high 10. Man, they could use a big beard game.
- A great burst from Maxey here late in the second but Danny Green gets a technician at a really bad time. The call was brutal – Green was whistled when it looked like Anunoby had hung him on a hook – but the veteran wing needs to keep their composure.
- They reduced the deficit to six, but the Sixers got a little sloppy on the track. After the Sixers had 17 combined turnovers in their first two games, the Sixers made 14 in the first half. Toronto received 11 additional field goal attempts. Harden (12 points, five assists) and Maxey (10 points) made pace in the Sixers, but Embiid fought mightily (five points, four turnovers). Despite all that, the Sixers aren’t in a bad place at halftime with a 56-46 lead. Still very much in as they take care of the ball and get some more from Embiid.
Third quarter
- And a turnover from Tobias Harris on first possession. Suboptimal. But Harden and Embiid with a couple of buckets soon after. Again, it would be huge if these two guys got going.
- Embiid buries a three at the top of the key and looks a lot more engaged as the second half begins. He is up to 12 points. Harden has edged in fairly consistently and now has up to 16 and six assists. Sixers cut the halftime lead in half, 62-57, about halfway through the third. Their best players looking like their best players were helpful.
- Forgive my language, but holy shit, Joel Embiid. A pick and roll from Harden-Embiid results in a monstrous dunk to reduce the deficit to three.
A few games later he scored another toss for a one. The Sixers are just one behind, 64-63. Embiid seems to have his right thumb glued and favors it a bit, but he looks like a different player in the second half.
- The Raptors are going into the zone now and the Sixers are looking a little disjointed. Good break from Doc Rivers.
- A brutal play by Green as he fouls VanVleet with a very long three. Green wasn’t thrilled with the call (we didn’t get a replay), but that’s basically four points Green gave Toronto in a tight game.
- What a mighty impressive neighborhood of Embiid. He didn’t let the rough first half carry over into the second, scoring 18 points and putting the Sixers to a point 75-74 before heading into the final frame. This is the difference in Embiid now compared to years past. He’s so special.
fourth quarter
- The Raptors pick at Harden and Reed a little defensively here. Anunoby and Precious Achuiwa play a two man game and take a good look at the rim. Rivers wisely brings Harris back in.
- Wow, that’s potentially huge – Harden takes his fifth foul with LOTS of time left (9:13).
- Harris and Maxey give the Sixers strong minutes at both ends here. We’ve been stuck at 82-80 here for a few minutes as both teams seem a little tight. Another well-timed timeout from the head coach with 6:59 to go, but when will he try to bring Harden back in?
- Joel Hans Embid. This guy is ridiculous. A step back three ties it at 87-87. He has a game-high 28 points after scoring just five in the first half. And now Harden is in touch again.
- Strange evening for Green. He’s missing a rabbit that would have given the Sixers their first lead. Toronto then gets a three on the other end. Next possession Green buried a corner three to tie it again at 90-90. Timed out Raptors with 3:06 left. Hold on folks – we’re just landing.
- Anunoby hits a three and then Green commits a brutal turnover under the basket. Achiuwa gets an offensive rebound from an Anunoby miss and the Sixers find themselves back with five.
- Maxey hits a lean in midrange jumper and then a harden drive leads to a keeper on Anunoby to make it 95-94 with 1:14 to go.
- After a VanVleet missed three, Harden had another powerful drive and was rewarded with a whistle. Unfortunately, he shared the free throws, leaving the score at 95-95 with a 49.7.
- What a brutal sequence for the Sixers. Achuiwa had the ball on the shot clock and Harden fouled it on the way to the basket. Brutal for saving Toronto late in the clock, but even more brutal for Harden fouling. Wow.
- And Achuiwa misses them both! Sixers have a chance to take their first lead with 27.2 seconds left as Harden looks on helplessly on the sidelines. What a wild, wild game.
- Man, the Sixers came awfully close to finishing that. Embiid gets a step back three and boy did he JUST miss it. Harris was able to tear down the offensive rebound but couldn’t quite finish the put back. Overtime without James Harden is tough.
Over time
- Big breakout from Maxey to start overtime and gave the Sixers their first lead of the night at 97-95. A few minutes later he scored another on a runner. The moment is absolutely not too big for this child.
- Just a ridiculous fadeaway by Embiid to take the Sixers to 101-100. Great team defense late on, especially from Embiid and Harris.
- Soft call to Embiid as Anunoby drove to the basket, but Anunoby split the pair and tied the game at 101-101.
- Ugly possession by the Sixers with a chance to win it when Achuiwa knocks the ball away from Embiid VERY late in the shot clock. Rivers is timed out with a .9 on the shot clock and a 2.6 at OT.
- JOEL. HANS. EMBIID. Embiid hits a three with 0.8 seconds remaining in the game to put the Sixers at 104-101.
That’s a pretty big “f—you” to the posh Toronto fans. Embiid with 33 points, 28 in the second half. This guy probably won’t be MVP, but he certainly looks like the best player on the planet.