Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby reacts as Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid celebrates the 76ers win with forward Tobias Harris in overtime. The Sixers won 104-101 on April 20, 2022.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
For most of the night on Wednesday in Toronto, it felt like the Raptors were back in this series. Then Joel Embiid took the air right out of the building.
Invigorated by the swell of emotion in their first playoff game at Scotiabank Arena since the 2019 NBA Finals, the Raptors led nearly all game, before losing 104-101 in overtime. It was Embiid who hit the game-winning 3-pointer – fast becoming one of the great villains in Toronto sports lore.
After a night of exhilarating highs and devastating lows on the court, the Raptors now sit 0-3 in the best-of-seven series, at risk of being swept on Saturday.
OG Anunoby had 26 points. Gary Trent Jr. was big against all odds for Toronto, providing 24 points after suffering an illness that had plagued him for days. Precious Achiuwa scored 20 points. Pascal Siakam had 12 points – all in the first half. Fred VanVleet also provided 12, on a shaky 3-of-13 night from the floor.
Embiid had 33 points and 13 rebounds for Philly, while James Harden and Tyrese Maxey each had 19 points.
“That’s as tough a loss as I can remember here for my time,” said Raptors Coach Nick Nurse. “We pull that thing out, we got ourselves a series. Instead you’ve got yourself a really, really deep hole to dig out of.”
The Raptors were missing Scottie Barnes for a second straight contest, after spraining his ankle in Game 1 when Embiid landed on his foot. The NBA Rookie of the Year finalist watched from the bench, but without the medical boot this time. Coach Nick Nurse speculated he might be ready for Game 4.
Trent Jr. was back after a non-COVID illness made it difficult for him to breathe as he ran the court in Game 2. He was scoreless in that game, but got out to fast start Wednesday, pouring in seven fast points, going on to hit four 3-pointers on the night.
His scoring was welcome, as VanVleet struggled to hit much. Toronto’s All-Star guard went 1-for-8 before things got slightly better for him later in the night. VanVleet did have nine assists.
“Can’t really cry about it,” said VanVleet. “We have no one to blame but ourselves.”
Toronto fans jeered Embiid relentlessly. There was a thunderous roar when Siakam stole a ball off his fellow Cameroonian in the opening minute. They chided the towering MVP finalist hard when he got tangled up with OG Anunoby on the floor for a loose ball, and every time he protested a call. They chanted “Embiid Sucks” and much nastier words not fit for print.
In Game 2, the Philly big man had shot 14 free throws – more than Toronto’s entire team (12). He and Raptors Nurse had a saucy exchange about the officiating, with Embiid telling him to stop complaining about the calls. The coach made a point to campaign a little in the days since about the need for fairer officiating on the star. (Embiid made 6-of-9 free throws in this game, and Philly had 20 total, while Toronto got 18.)
In Toronto Wednesday, fans seated behind the visiting basket greeted Philly’s 7-footer with an especially wild thwacking of their thunder sticks each time he lined for a free throw. When he threw an errant pass out of bounds, scattered fans mocked Embiid by doing his own airplane arm celebration at him. They didn’t make a peep when he scored.
Toronto built a 17-point lead, and held on for a ten point lead by half-time.
Embiid had scored 50 points and nabbed 26 rebounds through the first two games, but the Raps held the NBA’s leading scorer to just five first-half points, and two free throw attempts.
Embiid came out with a chip on his shoulder in the second half, scoring 18 third-quarter points -- including a slam dunk that saw him launch over Siakam.
He also defended Siakam a lot in the second half, and Siakam went scoreless in that half on 0-for-4 shooting.
The Raps led 75-74 after the third quarter and the foes went bucket for bucket down the stretch of a tense fourth. The final minute included so much drama. First a goaltending call on Anunoby, and a surprising missed free throw by Harden.
Then Achiuwa – in the midst of a stellar offensive game – his first really significant playoff minutes -- drew Harden into his sixth and final foul. In a crushing moment, Achiuwa then missed his own free throws, leaving the game tied. It went to overtime.
“It was a learning experience,” said Achiuwa.
VanVleet showed support for Achiuwa.
“He’s a huge reason why we were in the picture tonight -- his defense, his cutting to the rim,” said VanVleet. “For a young guy to have breakout performance like that in the playoffs is big for him. There’s no losing sleep over free throws.”
In the extra period, Anunoby hit a monster three, but had a game-winning free throw roll around the rim and fall no good.
Embiid had five points in the extra frame, including the 27-foot game-winner with 0.8 seconds left in overtime. The building fell silent as the 76ers big man jumped for joy.
“That’s the MVP of the league right there,” said Harden of his teammate.
Game 4 takes place in Toronto on Saturday at 2p.m., and if the Raptors survive it, Game 5 would be played Monday in Philadelphia.
The Raptors once came back to win a series they trailed 0-2 (in 2019 against Milwaukee), but never one they trailed 0-3.