The struggling Philadelphia 76ers (10 Wins – 70 Losses), who recently named former Raptors General Manager Bryan Colangelo as the new President of Basketball Operations for their franchise, were in town to face the Toronto Raptors. This game would be the Raptors’ final regular season home game for the 2015-16 campaign before Maple Leaf Square in front of the Air Canada Centre, aka Jurassic Park, heats up and gets taken to a whole new level!
The Raptors started the game hot, scoring 32 points in the first quarter, including a combined 27 points from Jonas Valanciunas (ten points & six rebounds), Luis Scola (ten points), and Norman Powell (seven points), while holding the 76ers to 23 points in the frame. The Sixers came to play in the 2nd quarter, nearly doubling their first quarter production in the second quarter alone, scoring 38 points compared to 23 in the first quarter. The Sixers took a 61-55 lead into the second half. The Raptors came out firing in the second half, leaving no doubt as to who the dominant team was. Toronto outscored Philadelphia 67-37 in the second half, posting a 32 point third quarter and a 35 point fourth quarter, going on to earn a decisive win, 122-98.
The Raptors have now finished their 2015-16 home game schedule, going 32-9 at the Air Canada Centre; a franchise best mark. Their final regular season game is Wednesday, April 13th at the Barclays Center vs. the Brooklyn Nets.
The playoff picture for the Toronto Raptors is now set, as they will face the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs in the #2 vs. #7 match up.
Notable Raptors stat lines:
(Raptors had seven players in double digit scoring)
Norman Powell – 18 points, four rebounds, three steals
Luis Scola – 12 points, four rebounds
Jonas Valanciunas – 17 points, 11 rebounds, one block (JV’s 22nd double-double of the season)
DeMar DeRozan – Ten points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal
Kyle Lowry – 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals
Terrence Ross – 17 points, two rebounds, four assists, two steals
Bismack Biyombo – 14 points, seven rebounds, one block
Notable 76ers stat lines:
Nik Stauskas – 13 points, two rebounds, three assists, two steals
Nerlens Noel – 14 points, ten rebounds, three assists, three steals, one block (Noel’s 16th double-double of the season)
Robert Covington – 24 points, three rebounds, three assists, one block
Ish Smith – 18 points, two rebounds, four assists, two steals
Postgame Reactions:
Dwane Casey
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zymWqnOcGiU]DeMar DeRozan
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nHzy1fB_VA]Kyle Lowry
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVDqHEhEDIg]DeMarre Carroll
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