Observations after Sixers fall to Raptors in OT to begin mini-series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers wound up with no reward for playing five extra minutes in the first leg of a Toronto back-to-back.
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They couldnât seal the deal in regulation and fell to a 116-115 overtime loss to the Raptors on Sunday night. The teams will meet again on Monday.
Scottie Barnes made the game-winning free throw with 0.8 seconds left in OT. He posted 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Tyrese Maxey had 38 points and five assists.
The 21-16 Sixers were without Joel Embiid (left knee injury management and left groin soreness). Paul George was a late scratch with left knee soreness.
RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl were sidelined for the 24-16 Raptors.
Here are observations on the Sixersâ overtime loss Sunday:
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Same first-half shooting story
The Sixers added Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond to their starting lineup in place of George and Embiid.
Dominick Barlow scored the teamâs first six points on two layups and a pair of free throws. Outside of Barlow, the Sixers began 0 for 8 from the field.
As was the case in their win Friday night over the Magic, the major first-half story for the Sixers was their dreadful jump shooting. The Raptors were in the same boat.
Jared McCain finally broke the three-point ice for both teams when he hit a nice side-step triple with 2.1 seconds left in the first quarter to give the Sixers a 25-22 edge. Overall, the Sixers and Raptors combined to shoot 3 for 26 beyond the arc in the first half. The Sixers and Magic had gone 3 for 33.
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Raptors do damage in open floor
Torontoâs offense had much of its success early in the shot clock.
The Raptors created issues for the Sixers when they were backpedaling and failed to stop the ball. Led by Barnes, the Raptors constantly pushed the ball forward through both the pass and dribble. Toronto posted eight of the gameâs first nine fast-break points.
Physicality and disputed whistles also emerged as early themes Sunday night.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse picked up a technical foul less than two minutes into the contest and had many further conversations with the officials. The Sixers ended up shooting 25 for 31 at the foul line and the Raptors went 29 for 39.
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Toronto built a 14-point advantage late in the second quarter and held a 58-48 lead at halftime.
Sixers squander chances to seal it
Kelly Oubre Jr.âs third game since returning from a left knee sprain was by far his best.
Oubre provided a serious jolt right after halftime with especially aggressive, athletic basketball on both ends of the floor. He made a personal 7-0 run, converting two layups and a corner three. Oubre also snagged three steals in the third quarter.
While Maxey and Oubre featured in the Sixersâ strong third quarter, Jabari Walker and Adem Bona also chipped in useful frontcourt minutes off the bench. Both Bona and Walker played high-energy, physical games and competed well on the glass. They totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds (six offensive) and two blocks.
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The Sixes eventually took a 73-71 lead on a Maxey mid-range jumper. They won the third quarter by 18 points and entered the fourth up by eight.
As Maxey watched the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Raptors surged ahead. No. 9 overall pick Collin Murray-Boyles (17 points, 15 rebounds) threw down a put-back dunk and Toronto took an 88-86 lead.
The Sixers played Maxey off the ball for a stretch late in the fourth quarter and VJ Edgecombe (17 points on 6-for-19 shooting) had a rough time offensively. After Edgecombe missed a step-back three, Barnes drove on Barlow and slammed in a big dunk. Two Barnes free throws evened the game at 99 apiece.
Maxey soon resumed on-ball duties and appeared to have the Sixers on the verge of a victory. He made a difficult turnaround jumper, a driving layup, and a three that gave the Sixers a 107-103 edge with 20.1 seconds left.
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From there, the Sixers squandered multiple chances to secure a regulation win.
Immanuel Quickley hit a long two from the left corner and the Sixers turned the ball over on the subsequent inbounds play. Oubre couldnât complete a clean pass to Edgecombe along the sideline.
Quickley then came up well short on a baseline jumper attempt over Edgecombe, but Toronto retained possession because the rebound last deflected off of Bona.
Barnes threw his baseline out-of-bounds pass to Murray-Boyles. He drove and dished to Jamal Shead (22 points, six assists), who made a short push shot with 2.0 seconds to go. Quentin Grimes missed a half-court heave, sending the game to OT.
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Just like the rest of the game, overtime was a back-and-forth affair. Edgecombe sunk a massive shot when Shead denied Maxey the ball late in the shot clock, burying a tightly guarded three with 15.6 seconds on the clock to knot it up at 115-all.
Barnes ultimately had the last word. He drove on Oubre, drew a foul with 0.8 seconds remaining and knocked down his first free throw. Barnes intentionally missed his second, meaning the Sixers had no way to steal the game, and the Raptors celebrated a hard-earned win.
