PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Tobias Harris hit a three-pointer in overtime that put Philadelphia ahead to stay, and Joel Embiid had 28 points, 11 rebounds and four assists as the 76ers extended their winning streak to a season-best five games with a 104-101 win over the struggling Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
Harris put the Sixers ahead with 2:12 left in OT and finished with 21 points, making five of his seven three-point attempts.
“He dedicated this summer to being a spot-up shooter, making shots, and he’s doing that,” Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said of Harris’ evolution. “You can see he’s worked on improving the quickness of his release.” Harris then came down and made another three-pointer on the next possession.
The referees originally called a shooting foul on Scottie Barnes, which would have sent Harris to the line for a chance to complete the four-point play, but after a review the referees determined that PJ Tucker committed an illegal screen before Harris’ shot.
“I wasn’t gonna complain, but that was probably the most ridiculous game I’ve ever been a part of. That’s all I’ll say about that game,” Embiid said, indirectly referencing the play. “I’m just glad we got the win. But the way the game was, it was ridiculous.”
James Harden added 14 points for Philadelphia, which has won the first five games of a seven-game homestand, the Sixers’ longest of the season.
The 76ers close out the stretch against the Pistons tonight and Clippers on Friday.
The 76ers won despite a stellar performance from Toronto All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, whose 38-point performance was the highest point total allowed by 76ers this season.
Siakam, whose driving layup with 5.1 seconds left in regulation sent the game to overtime, added 15 rebounds, six assists and strong defence down the stretch in a losing effort.
The Raptors used a 19-1 run, which stretched from late in the third quarter and into the start of the fourth, to erase Philadelphia’s lead, which reached as many as 14 points early in the third.
Siakam fuelled Toronto’s comeback, scoring 10 of Toronto’s 19 points during the run.
It is the sixth consecutive loss for the struggling Raptors, who fell to 13-18. Toronto shot just 42 per cent from the field and 11 for 40 from three-point range.
Besides Siakam’s 38 points, no Toronto player scored more than 13. Fred VanVleet (nine points) shot just three for 15 from the field, and two for 11 from three-point range.
