76ers beat Raptors 132-97, advance to 2nd round of NBA Playoffs

Joel Embiid had 33 factors and 10 rebounds, Harden added 22 factors and 15 assists and the 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 132-97 in Sport 6 to finish their first-round collection Thursday evening.

“We weren’t going again to Philly for a Sport 7,” Harden stated.

Philadelphia will face Miami within the second spherical, with Sport 1 Monday evening in South Florida. The highest-seeded Warmth beat Atlanta in 5 video games.

“They’re good, they’re deep, they’re veterans,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers stated concerning the Warmth. “We have got to go play grown males, and we’re wanting ahead to the problem.”

Tyrese Maxey scored 25 factors, going 5 for 12 from 3-point vary, and Tobias Harris had 19 factors and 11 rebounds to assist the 76ers end off the Raptors with a blowout after shedding the previous two video games.

“We knew what was at stake for us,” Harris stated. “No disrespect to our followers, however we didn’t need to come again to Wells Fargo for a Sport 7. We needed to finish it tonight out right here.”

Danny Inexperienced scored 12 factors and shot 4 for 7 from 3-point vary because the Sixers completed 16 for 40 from past the arc. The Raptors struggled from 3-point vary, going 7 for 35.

Chris Boucher had 25 factors and 10 rebounds for Toronto, Pascal Siakam fouled out with 24 factors, Gary Trent Jr. had 19 and Scottie Barnes 18.

“We fought exhausting however we did not get the result we needed,” Siakam stated. “We simply have to return and be taught from it.”

Toronto misplaced within the first spherical for the primary time since being swept by Washington in 2015.

“I assumed we went by means of an incredible quantity this yr,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse stated. “They only saved combating, saved taking part in, saved getting higher and saved figuring it out.”

Harden credited the Raptors for extending the collection after shedding the primary three video games.

“That was one of many hardest collection I’ve performed in simply due to their switching and their athleticism, their size,” Harden stated about Toronto’s lineup. “They throw totally different defenses at you, field and ones and zones. They only mess up the sport.”

The Raptors performed with out all-star guard Fred VanVleet. He missed his second straight sport due to a strained left hip flexor.

Toronto’s Treasured Achiuwa had 17 factors in Sport 5 however did not rating Thursday till making a free throw within the fourth quarter. Achiuwa drove for a dunk on the finish of the third however the basket was waved off as a result of it got here after the buzzer. He shot 1 for 7 and scored three factors.

The Raptors trailed 70-67 after Siakam made a hook shot with 9:42 left within the third, however Maxey hit three 3-pointers because the 76ers broke the sport open with a 17-0 run over the subsequent four-plus minutes, opening an 87-67 lead with 5:20 left within the quarter.

“At halftime I seemed and we had nice photographs, and we had been going to maintain getting these,” Rivers stated. “I instructed them ‘If we will rebound the ball, we will stretch this lead shortly.’ That was faster than I assumed, clearly. We made each shot.”

Nurse known as timeout after Harden related from distance with 3:52 left within the third, placing the Sixers up 92-70. Philadelphia took a 99-78 result in the fourth.

PLAYING VILLAIN

After being known as for a foul within the third quarter, Embiid responded to vulgar chants from the followers by cupping his fingers round his ears. He did the identical whereas heading to the bench for a fourth quarter timeout.

Boos rained down after Embiid dunked within the fourth, then ran down the court docket together with his arms raised within the airplane celebration he used in opposition to Toronto within the 2019 playoffs.

IN CASE OF PLAYOFFS, BRING GREEN

Rivers singled out veteran guard Danny Inexperienced for a poised efficiency in Sport 6.

“If you are going to go on the street, you need to deliver Danny Inexperienced with you,” Rivers stated. “Actually. He isn’t fazed in any respect.”

SHOT CHART

Toronto made seven of its first eight field-goal makes an attempt, then missed its subsequent 10. The Raptors shot 12 for 17 within the first quarter, making 5 of 19 after their sizzling begin.

TIP-INS

76ers: Embiid had a bandage over his eye as he left the world. Embiid was elbowed within the face as Siakam drove to the basket within the fourth. … Rivers was known as for a technical foul within the fourth for arguing that Harden had been fouled on a three-point basket. … Embiid went 9 for 10 on the free throw line, whereas Harden was 6 for six.

Raptors: Siakam had seven of Toronto’s 15 assists. … Former Raptors guard Cory Joseph attended the sport.