As it turns out, some third quarters can be bad enough to completely sink you.
The Sixers fell 121-112 to the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night.
Tyrese Maxey, once again the game’s leading scorer, went for
24 points shooting 8-of-14 from the floor along with two boards and nine assists. Quentin Grimes went for 21 — 19 of those points coming in the fourth quarter.
VJ Edgecombe had 21 points as well, shooting 8-of-20 while also grabbing six rebounds and four assists. Jared McCain finally got on the board for the year, scoring five points on 2-of-7 shooting in 13:55 of play. Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 22.
Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Adem Bona all missed this game with injuries, as did Collin Murray-Boyles for Toronto.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
- Aside from a couple turnovers, the Sixers opened the game fairly well offensively as Maxey started hot from three. He crossed over his buddy Immanuel Quickley to get the crowd on its feet, and blocked his friend’s jumper a few possessions later. That was as much resistance as Toronto met early though as they made seven of their first 1o shots of the game.
- Based on who was out tonight, the Sixers really lacked for playmaking ability in their starting lineup outside of Maxey. This was evident early — they went nearly three minutes without a field goal. Trendon Watford, who’s struggled a bit the past few games, was able to pick things up again with a bucket from the post and a three from the break.
- Maxey’s excellent quarter came to an end when McCain checked into the game, finally seeing some first quarter minutes. He finally got his first points of the season with a midrange pull-up, throwing both arms in the sky when it went down. Both looks on the following possession were his as well, but Gradey Dick blocked his drive and his three towards the end of the shot clock didn’t fall. The Sixers were still searching for answers defensively though as the Raptors finished the first well over 50% from the field, giving them a five-point lead.
Second Quarter
- The good continued to outweigh the bad for McCain. He got turned over on a drive, but also knocked down his first three of the season and also was able to steal a rebound from a much taller Raptor. Speaking of rebounding, Jabari Walker seemed to have an extra pep in his step pulling down his three rebounds in the first half. He had five points in his first shift as the backup five, knocking down a three for himself as well.
- The Sixers’ defense did look better on the perimeter, but they started to get beat up inside a bit. Jakob Poeltl and Andre Drummond couldn’t keep each other off the offensive glass, but the Raptors won points in the paint 30-24 in the half.
- The Raptors also forced more turnovers and had more fast break points in the half, but the Sixers were able to use transition opportunities to swing momentum back to them. Maxey was really trying to get his hands into passing lanes — he had three stocks in the half. Edgecombe looked all out of sorts for much of the half, but he was able to finish a fast break caused by an Edwards steal with a big dunk. A few possessions later he finished a tough floater in the lane that helped put the Sixers up by three at the break.
Third Quarter
- The Sixers avoided their third quarter struggles the previous two games, but they were on display early as the Raptors ripped off a 10-2 run to start the second half. They just came out sloppy again, turning it over three times and sending the Raptors to the line eight times within the first four minutes of the third.
- It was good to see Nick Nurse go to McCain as he looked to his bench to fix a struggling offense. With how often the offense gets stuck into isolations and how he can go possessions at a time without touching the ball, it makes off-ball movement either ineffective or flat out impossible.
- As it has so often this season, the Sixers offense’s only plan for getting out of a rut was hoping on whatever Maxey could cook up. He shot 3-of-4 in the quarter, but that was hardly enough to keep up with the eight turnovers they committed in the quarter. The Raptors also enjoyed some positive shooting regression after making only two threes in the first half, taking a 15-point lead into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
- Edgecombe had really looked lost offensively for much of the night, but he seemed to be putting things together in the third. He continued to attack the basket to start the fourth, and had success just about every time either finishing with a layup or getting to the line. He didn’t quite get the poster he’s been hunting, but Sandro Mamukelashvili getting a hand up here was maybe his first contested dunk of his young career.
- That Edgecombe dunk was in the midst of an 11-0 run to bring the Sixers back in the game. It was once again helped by their limited transition opportunities, Drummond came up with steals on consecutive possessions. They also needed someone else to find their shooting stroke and Grimes was able to do just that.
- The Raptors were able to briefly halt that run with a couple open baskets thanks to defensive breakdowns, and those mistakes are what slowly helped them put the game away. Whether it was an offensive rebound or a missed double team, they just always were able to get a basket anytime the Sixers got it within a one or two possession game. This time, not being able to put a full game together cost them.
