Raptors Keep Coming Up Short in Loss to 76ers
The game began perfectly for Toronto. The Raptors came out hot, with Quickley hitting three early triples and Scottie Barnes battling fiercely against Joel Embiid. Ochai Agbaji started in place of the injured Jakob Poeltl, giving the lineup a different look.
Adding nostalgia to the night, the 76ers took the floor in their Iverson-era black jerseys on a matching retro court. Despite Toronto's fast start, Philadelphia matched their pace and even pulled ahead 17-15 in the opening stretch.
Trendon Watford made immediate contributions, posting seven points and grabbing two offensive rebounds, taking advantage of defensive lapses. Philadelphia effectively ran plays through Tyrese Maxey — the NBA’s leading scorer — keeping their offense steady and organized.
The Raptors responded with a strong perimeter barrage, as Shead drained two threes followed by one from Barrett, swinging the momentum back in their favor. When Sandro Mamukelashvili subbed in, Maxey found more space to exploit, but Toronto’s ball movement improved noticeably, with 10 of their first 11 field goals assisted.
Collin Murray-Boyles was the first bench player to check in, delivering instant energy. He brought defensive intensity, stole the ball from Kelly Oubre Jr. in transition, rolled effectively to the rim, and kept the offense flowing. The new rotation underscored Toronto’s flexibility and willingness to adapt even when the results didn’t tilt their way in the end.
“10 of their first 11 buckets were assisted.”
Author’s Summary
The Raptors showed promise with sharp ball movement and effort, yet failed to sustain consistency as Philadelphia’s efficiency and Maxey’s leadership secured the win.