Brett Brown knew the Sixers were in for a fight against the Raptors on Saturday night. After highly praising the backcourt duo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, he expanded his credit to the entire roster.
“This is an elite team of the East that will be there, I think, when it matters, maybe even late,” he assessed before the game. “They play good basketball, they’re well-coached and they have been together for a while now.”
Against those Raptors, the Sixers were unable to maintain an early lead and found themselves playing catchup after the first quarter. In spite of 28 points from Ish Smith, tied for the most scored by any Sixer this season, the Raptors kept control to hold on and deal Brown's club a 108-95 loss at the Wells Fargo Center.
Turning point
The Sixers jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game behind eight points from Jahlil Okafor. After shooting 0 for 7 from the field, the Raptors responded with a 9-0 run to cut the Sixers advantage to three. Less than two minutes later, they erased the Sixers early burst and tied the game 16 apiece.
High numbers
Smith topped all players with 28 points, while Lowry led the Raptors with 25. Jonas Valanciunas grabbed nine rebounds. T.J. McConnell dished eight assists.
Smith's third-quarter tear
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey saw it coming.
NBA
“He’s been a big spark plug to their team and we will have our hands full with him tonight,” he said of Smith before the game.
The point guard scored six points (3 for 9 FG) in the first half and then went into overdrive. He netted 18 points (7 for 9 FG) in the third quarter alone in his career-high scoring night.
Home sweet home
Philadelphia native Lowry dropped 25 points, six rebounds and five assists against his hometown team.
"His give-a-crap level is pretty high,” Casey said of the Lowry’s trip back home.
Up next
The Sixers have a quick turnaround from Saturday's 7:30 p.m. game with a 6 p.m. tip Sunday at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
