Sixers lose to Raptors for 12th straight time
TORONTO - You knew it was going to end this way. Most 76ers games do. The script goes like this: They play hard and take a second-half lead only to exit the court with a loss.
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TORONTO - You knew it was going to end this way.
Most 76ers games do. The script goes like this: They play hard and take a second-half lead only to exit the court with a loss.
This time, it was the Toronto Raptors who played the role of spoilers, defeating the Sixers, 122-98, on Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre.
The loss dropped the Sixers to 10-71 heading into Wednesday's season finale against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The Raptors, who clinched the Eastern Conference's second playoff seed, improved to 55-26. This marked their 12th straight victory over the Sixers.
But things were looking good for the visitors for some time. They shared the ball and set a franchise record by making 11 three-pointers in the first half. The Sixers even had a 67-59 lead with 8 minutes, 46 seconds left in the third quarter. But the Raptors responded with a 9-0 run. Then after the score was knotted at 72 with 5:19 left in the quarter, Toronto went on a 15-1 run to make a commanding 87-73 lead late in the third.
The Sixers were outscored, 32-13, in the decisive quarter.
"They guarded," Sixers coach Brett Brown said of the Raptors. "They generated a lot of their scores through their defense. We were playing an unlikely group off our bench and we got punished for it."
The Sixers had Hollis Thompson, Nik Stauskas, Robert Covington, Nerlens Noel, and Ish Smith on the court when the score was tied at 72. But T.J. McConnell subbed in for Covington with 4:13 left in the quarter. Fifty-nine seconds later, Christian Wood replaced Noel. Then Kendall Marshall came in for Smith with 3:05 left in the third.
All five Toronto starters and two reserves - Bismack Biyombo and Terrence Ross - scored in double figures. Norman Powell led the way with 18 points. Jonas Valanciunas and Ross contributed 17 points apiece. Valanciunas added 11 rebounds to post his 22nd double-double of the season.
Covington finished with a game-high 24 points while hitting 6 of 10 three-pointers. Sixteen of his points came in the second quarter.
Smith finished with 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting. The Sixers point guard made his first six shots.
Holmes shows progress
Reserve power forward Richaun Holmes' rookie season with the Sixers ended when he strained his right Achilles against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 26.
But the 6-foot-10, 245-pounder is showing some progress.
"I worked out on the court a little bit today," He said Tuesday. "I should be back working out in full force in probably a few days."
Holmes is determined to build off a promising first season. He averaged 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 13.8 minutes while playing behind Twin Towers Noel and Jahlil Okafor.
"I just have to come back, control what I can control, and get back for next year," he said.
Back to school
Okafor will take classes at Duke this summer. The 6-11 power forward/center left Duke after his freshman year.
@PompeyOnSixers