Wednesday 8 May 2019 07:00, UK
Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 125-89 Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series.
The Raptors can clinch the best-of-seven set by winning Game 6 on Thursday in Philadelphia. Game 7, if necessary, would be played Sunday in Toronto.
Pascal Siakam had 25 points and eight rebounds for the Raptors. Kyle Lowry added 19 points, Danny Green had 17 points, Marc Gasol contributed 11 and Serge Ibaka scored 10.
Ibaka needed stitches after getting elbowed in the forehead by Leonard in the first quarter, but the center returned to start the second quarter.
Jimmy Butler scored 22 points and added seven assists for the 76ers. Tobias Harris contributed 15 points, Joel Embiid had 13 and Mike Scott chipped in with 10. Embiid committed a game-high eight turnovers.
The Raptors took command of the game by outscoring the Sixers 37-17 in the second quarter, and Toronto led by 22 points entering the fourth quarter.
The margin increased to 31 points when Gasol hit a three-pointer two minutes into the fourth period.
Ibaka's lay-up and free throw bumped the lead to 33 with 6:32 to play. Norman Powell's running dunk got the advantage to 40 with 2:24 to go.
The Raptors used a 7-0 surge to establish a 27-26 edge after one quarter. Toronto had an eight-point lead early in the second quarter on Gasol's three-pointer.
Ibaka's lay-up gave Toronto a 12-point lead six minutes into the second quarter.
The Raptors continued to pull away, and when Green made a three-pointer with 40.5 seconds to play in the first half, they led by 19 points. Leonard made two free throws with 29 seconds left to increase the gap to 21.
Toronto led 64-43 at half-time. Leonard had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the first half. Siakam had 15 first-half points, and Lowry and Green added 11 each. The 76ers were led by 15 points from Butler and 11 from Harris at the break.
Philadelphia started the second half with a 10-2 surge, trimming the deficit to 13. But the Raptors rebuilt the lead, a pair of free throws by Lowry with 6:19 left in the third quarter lifting them back to a 20-point lead.
Green added a three-pointer to bump the advantage to 23 points with 5:51 left in the third.
Toronto were on top 92-70 after three quarters.
Game 6 takes place in Philadelphia in the early hours of Friday morning (1am) live on Sky Sports Arena.
