Toronto Raptors lost 128-123 in overtime Friday night after the visiting Los Angeles Lakers tied the game in the final second of regulation.
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The Toronto Raptors will try to shake off a disappointing loss and make up for lost ground in the playoff seedings Sunday night when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers. The Raptors lost 128-123 in overtime Friday night after the visiting Los Angeles Lakers tied the game in the final second of regulation on Russell Westbrook’s 3-point shot. The loss dropped the Raptors into seventh place in the Eastern Conference behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who won in overtime Friday against the Denver Nuggets.
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Scottie Barnes had career bests of 31 points and 17 rebounds on Friday. According to ESPN Stats, he is the fourth rookie over the past 20 seasons with 25 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a game, joining Ben Simmons, Blake Griffin and LeBron James. He is the first Raptors rookie to accomplish the feat.
The 76ers, third in the Eastern Conference entering Saturday, defeated the visiting Dallas Mavericks 111-101 on Friday. Philadelphia is being pursued in the standings by the streaking Boston Celtics. Joel Embiid had 32 points, eight rebounds and five steals for the 76ers despite playing with a sore back. He had been listed as questionable for the game.
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“I’m OK,” Embiid said, “I’ve just got to keep pushing. What, 13 more games (to the end of the regular season)? We’re almost there. Then we will figure out the rest later. I’m fine. We’ve just got to keep pushing.”
“He’s just playing through everything,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. “I go back to the same thing. He’s in great shape. Conditioning allows you to play through injury, allows you to play through pain, and he’s doing that. He wants to play. The games he’s sat, he’s not actually wanted to. He’d been told he had to. It’s been good. He’s been great.”
Philadelphia mixed in a zone defense effectively against Dallas. James Harden, acquired from the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 10, had 24 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds against Dallas.
