With two games left in the regular season, Pascal Siakam and the Toronto Raptors are getting in shape at the right time.
Shiakam had 37 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for the third triple-double of his career, and the messy Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 119-114 on Thursday.
“Heckuva game, a lot of energy in the building, the kids out there did a good job, made contributions everywhere and Pascal was obviously awesome,” said coach Nick Nurse.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 30 points, while Precious Achiuwa had five three-pointers with the best in his career at 20 points.
“It was good,” Achiuwa said of his tremendous long-distance improvement. “My teammates and the coaching staff trust me to do these shots. There is nothing really complicated about it.”
Scotty Barnes scored 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors (47-33), who missed key players Fred VanVlit and OG Anunobi. VanVleet got up at night to rest his aching knee, while Anunoby (thigh bruise) is expected to play on Sunday.
Joel Embiid had 30 points to beat the Sixers, who lost for the first time in four games. Philly big man will be a handful if the Raptors and Sixers meet in the playoffs.
“He is an amazing player,” said Achiuwa. “We do not have anyone in our team who fits his size, but we have speed, speed and length, so we use it to our advantage.”
Two nights after winning a playoff berth in Atlanta, the Raptors were 15 points behind early Thursday. But they quickly overturned it and led 97-95 to start the fourth quarter.
Achiuwa’s fifth three-pointer of the night saw the Raptors go 102-92 with 6:48 to play and brought the world to the 19,800-capacity Scotiabank Arena – which included Drake and Toronto Blue Jays Alek Manoah and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. . – at his feet.
Danny Green’s three-pointer in front of the Raptors bench reduced the difference to four points with 2:13 to play, but Shiakam responded with a great zigzag motion around Ebid to score. In Philly’s next possession, Shiakam stole the ball from James Harden and Barnes ran to the bottom court for a thunderous dunk and an eight-point lead.
Shiakam went to the free-kick line in the final seconds shouting “MVP!”
“I did not really hear it, but obviously a great atmosphere,” said Shiakam. “I think we missed it a lot … for a few years it was difficult to just play without fans (last season in Tampa, Florida, and parts of this season in Toronto because of the COVID-19 regulations). It’s nice to have the world. back home and only the energy, the atmosphere is a little different “.
Green finally received the 2019 NBA Raptors Championship ring, 1,030 days after Toronto won the Larry O’Brien trophy. A series of events surrounding COVID-19, including the Raptors who played outside of Florida last season, suspended the ceremony until Thursday. Green was honored with a video tribute and applause, and VanVleet and Siakam unveiled the huge diamond ring.
“Perfect, just as I expected it to be,” Green said, wearing a red sequined jacket. “Obviously, to have Fred and Pascal, only a few guys on this team are still there, to show me the ring … it was good to see them.”
The festive moment then was quickly dampened by the Raptors’ horrible start. The Sixers connected in seven three-pointers in the first quarter and Embiid’s dunk brought the visitors 17-2 before the game even closed five minutes. The Raptors responded with a series of 12-3 and retreated with 33-26 to start the second.
Trent Jr.’s three-pointer at 9:23 in the second half closed a 9-1 streak of the Raptors for their first lead from the first points of the match. Achiuwa’s second three-pointer put Toronto five, but the Sixers finished fourth 7-1 to reach halftime 60-56.
Shiakam took the lead with 15 points in the third quarter and his traction jumper with 1.8 seconds left sent Toronto in fourth place with a two-point lead.
The rival after the Raptors’ season may not be decided until the various finals of the regular season on Sunday, with Boston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia battling for second to fourth place in the East.
The Raptors host Houston on Friday and then end the regular season in New York on Sunday.
Philly guard Matisse Thybulle has been described as “unfit to play” in Toronto, which means he may also not be able to play at the Scotiabank Arena if the Raptors and Sixers meet in the playoffs. Players must be vaccinated to play in Canada. The reverse is true for Toronto players traveling south of the border, but the entire Raptors roster is vaccinated.
This Canadian Press report was first published on April 7, 2022.
