The Toronto Raptors sure looked like a team on the second night of a back to back Wednesday night. Meanwhile the Philadelphia 76ers looked like a franchise back on the road to being great. Toronto’s streak of four straight wins came to an end in a 94-89 loss to a younger, fresher and by the end of the game, bigger Sixers squad. Their season-long domination of the Sixers and the Atlantic division was also snapped. Toronto is no longer perfect against the Atlantic division this year. The loss ended the Raptors’ 14-game win streak versus Philadelphia, the longest active streak against any opponent. Meanwhile, Philadelphia gets just their 14th win and Toronto suffered just its 14th loss this year.
The Process Produces
Joel Embiid was the best player on the floor from start to finish and has scored 20 or more in 10 consecutive games. Relishing in the moment, Embiid went full wrestling star and was gesturing to his ears all night after big plays imploring the crowd to make noise. The scene at the Wells Fargo Centre looked more like a playoff game rather than a January home game for a team that’s on pace to once again miss the post-season. The “Let’s go Process” chants reigned down as Embiid blocked Kyle Lowry and recovered the ball only to draw Lowry’s final foul before fouling out. Normally a great homecoming, this the first time Kyle has lost in Philly as a Raptor. Philly is Lowry’s hometown but tonight the game and the town belonged to Joel.
Sullinger Returns
The narrative to start the night was the return of Jared Sullinger. It was Sullinger’s first game action since the Raptors’ game versus Golden State in Vancouver to start the pre-season. Sullinger missed the first half of the season after having surgery on the fifth metatarsal on his left foot, which at the time was announced as a preventative measure. He was on a 10-15 minute restriction Wednesday because of his long layoff. Raptors head coach Dwane Casey had hoped to get his free agent acquisition some time in the D-League before putting him in a live NBA game. However, with the NBA D-League showcase currently going on and the Raptors thin for bigs, the addition of the power forward was badly needed. Patrick Patterson has now missed four games with a knee injury. Lucas Nogueira missed the game due to concussion protocol. DeMarre Carroll left the game after injuring his neck. Sullinger, who is career 11-point, seven-rebound per game player, gave Toronto eight points and three rebounds in just 13 minutes. Sullinger checked in with 1:56 to play in the first quarter for Jonas Valanciunas as a small ball centre beside Carroll at the four. Sullinger was a live body right away quickly posting four points and three rebounds in his first two minutes forcing Brett Brown to call a timeout. Remember when Raptors fans wanted Masai Ujiri to trade for Nerlens Noel? Noel put up just five points and three rebounds in 21 minutes. Sullinger showed flashes that could prove Toronto was prudent to wait it out until he returned.
Bebe Badly Needed
The most concerning injured Raptor is surprisingly Nogueira. Sullinger’s return somewhat mitigates Patterson being out. Terrence Ross and Norman Powell can cover if Carroll misses extended time. But Bebe provides something nobody else on the roster does, rim protection. Nogueira left the prior game with blurred vision in left eye after being hit in the face inadvertently by Trevor Booker. Before this recent absence Bebe went a franchise-record 27 straight games played with a blocked shot. His 3.1 blocks per 36 minutes is second in the league, not surprisingly to Embiid. The Raptors only had three blocks as a team versus Philly. Meanwhile Embiid had his way in the paint en route to 26 points.
Clipped Wings
It was a prodding, lethargic effort on offence. Toronto shot just 65 per cent from the free-throw line. They shot 5-21 from the three point line. Powell and Sullinger being denied at the rim back to back by Dario Saric was the game in a nutshell. No group of players showed the lack of lift on the offensive end more than Casey’s wing players. DeMar DeRozan was 0-6 in the first quarter. His first made field goal came with 2:14 left in the second quarter. Carroll was 0-5 from the field in the first half. He finished 0-6 before leaving with a neck injury after colliding with Pascal Siakam. Ross was three-for-10 and just two-of-seven from three. Three of those three-point misses were uncontested shots down the stretch that could have turned the momentum to Toronto as they tried to mount a comeback. Powell was two-for-six from the field and was abused by the bigger Saric, Ersan Ilyasova and Robert Covington on the defensive end.
Good Fight Despite Bad Finish
DeRozan did find his shooting stroke as the game went on finishing with 14 fourth-quarter points. He finished with 25 points, six assists and three rebounds. DeRozan now has 20 or more points in 14 straight games. Jonas counted his strong play on both ends with 10 points and 16 rebounds for his team-leading 16th double-double. Kyle Lowry worked through his struggles with 24 points, four assists and five steals. The Raptors didn’t shoot well (39.5 FG%), had heavy legs and still had a puncher’s chance at the end because their stars never quit. This was an opportunity lost. Division-rival Boston also dropped their contest to the woeful Knicks. Toronto may look back and regret this loss but it wasn’t due to lack of effort, it was due to lack of health and energy.