Raptors Keep Coming Up Short in Loss to 76ers
The Raptors started strong as Immanuel Quickley opened the game with three quick triples, and Scottie Barnes battled effectively against Joel Embiid. Ochai Agbaji replaced the injured Jakob Poeltl in the starting lineup. The 76ers, dressed in their classic Iverson-era black jerseys on a matching court, matched the Raptors' energy early and outscored them 17–15 during the initial stretch.
Trendon Watford made a notable early impact, scoring seven points and collecting two offensive rebounds, capitalizing on defensive lapses by Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the 76ers ran their offense through Tyrese Maxey — the league’s leading scorer — keeping their rhythm steady on offense.
The Raptors countered with a burst of three-pointers: two from Shead and one from Barrett, helping them build momentum. When Sandro Mamukelashvili subbed in, Maxey found larger defenders to attack, but Toronto’s ball movement improved; ten of their first eleven made shots were assisted.
Collin Murray-Boyles was the first off the bench and impressed in limited minutes. His defensive activity stood out as he pressured the ball, stripped Kelly Oubre Jr. in transition, rolled effectively to the basket, and kept ball movement flowing. The lineup shift also highlighted new rotation dynamics for the team.
"The Raptors had a string of 2 Shead threes followed by 1 from Barrett, and it allowed them to charge ahead."
Author’s Summary
The Raptors played with pace and teamwork early but struggled to maintain consistency against a disciplined 76ers squad led by Tyrese Maxey's scoring burst.