The Sixers Strung Together A Game Of Runs To Force A Game 7 Against The Raptors

After a Game 5 performance that ended with a 36-point loss, the Philadelphia 76ers looked to be in serious trouble against the Toronto Raptors. With their backs against the wall, however, the Sixers responded in a big way, putting together an impressive showing in a 112-101 victory to send the series back to Canada for Game 7 on Sunday.

The first quarter was filled with runs on both sides, with the Sixers setting the tone at the outset with a push of their own. Philadelphia took a 13-5 lead with an engaged crowd behind them.

On cue, the Raptors scored 10 straight points to take the lead and, in doing so, held the Sixers scoreless for more than four minutes of clock time.

Philly then struck back with 10 straight of their own, and Ben Simmons jumped into the fray in noteworthy fashion. The multi-talented sophomore was responsible for all 10 points with a bucket and three assists.

In fact, Simmons finished the first quarter with eight points and five rebounds, bouncing back in a big way after a slow series to this point.

The Sixers then continued their positive mojo into the second quarter with an 11-0 overall that included a trio of threes.

After Philadelphia pushed to their largest lead of the half at 42-23, the Raptors would retaliate, scoring 12 consecutive points to climb within seven behind the individual brilliance of Kawhi Leonard.

There was one more push to come before halftime, though, and it came from Butler. The All-Star wing scored Philly’s last seven points of the half (and 19 overall in the first two quarters) and his late flourish allowed the Sixers to take a 15-point lead into the break.

After halftime, Toronto put together a spurt in an attempt to make things interesting. The visitors engineered an extended run of 18-7 and that brought the margin back to single digits at 69-61.

The home team didn’t seem to like that discomfort, though, and the Sixers scored nine consecutive points, including a dunk from Simmons and an important catch-and-shoot three from Mike Scott.

That haymaker gave Philadelphia a 17-point lead and, by the end of the third quarter, the advantage was 20 points with the help of highlights from Simmons and Joel Embiid.

From there, the Sixers led by as many as 24 in the closing period and the Raptors never mounted a serious charge on the way to the final result.

It was a balanced offensive effort from Philadelphia, with Butler carrying the water in the first half on the way to 25 points on the night, Embiid posting an absurd +40 in 36 minutes (to go along with a double-double), and Simmons excelling with 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Game 7 will bring an opportunity for the Sixers to replicate this inspired effort in a different venue but, for 48 minutes on Thursday, it was a wildly encouraging effort from Brett Brown’s team when that was the only option to avoid elimination.