 | PHI 76ers | 95 | Final Box Score | 108 | TOR Raptors |  |
 A+ | P. Siakam35 MIN, 29 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 12-15 FG, 3-4 3FG, 2-4 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 15 +/- He was the second best player on the floor. Monster defensive game, and he attacked at will against a bevy of different Sixers defenders, and looked comfortable doing so. If Philadelphia can’t find an answer for his attacking game they’re in trouble in this series, because Siakam was in complete control when he had the ball in his hands tonight. Would’ve been the best player on the floor, if not for… | ||||||||
 A+ | K. Leonard38 MIN, 45 PTS, 11 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 16-23 FG, 3-7 3FG, 10-11 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 26 +/- Staggeringly dominant performance. There was simply no answer at all from the Sixers for what he was doing out there, and Kawhi was well aware of it, taking what he wanted, when he wanted it, and at the same time giving a huge defensive effort. Looked like pre-injury Kawhi, and that player was maybe the best player in the league. That’s how good he was tonight, and it was a privilege to watch him do it. | ||||||||
 A+ | M. Gasol26 MIN, 8 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 3-8 FG, 2-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 29 +/- The most dominant 8-point, 2-rebound performance a big man can have. He established the tone in the matchup with Embiid, and that dictated the game. Physical without fouling was the name of the game for him tonight, and that’s how the Raptors contained Embiid and shut down the Sixers defense. On the offensive end, his ability to space the floor and make plays opened the game up behind Embiid. | ||||||||
 A+ | K. Lowry38 MIN, 9 PTS, 3 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL, 4-10 FG, 0-4 3FG, 1-1 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 25 +/- Five fouls and missing his 3s are about the only knocks on Kyle tonight, and the threes were good looks. He was in his bag in terms of being a pest, and he ran the offense well and got out of the way and let Kawhi and Pascal cook. | ||||||||
 A+ | D. Green32 MIN, 7 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 2-5 FG, 1-4 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 18 +/- Danny quietly had a huge defensive game in this one, and wasn’t asked to do much offensively, which is fine in this matchup. He had one bad three at the end of the third quarter that he didn’t need to take and resulted in a 4-point swing for the Sixers, but aside from that was fantastic. | ||||||||
 B- | F. VanVleet24 MIN, 3 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3FG, 1-4 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 +/- There was a lot of good from Fred. Didn’t force too many shots, and he played a good enough defensive game. But when he’s on the floor with Kawhi, Pascal or Kyle, he needs to dominate the ball less and let them work more. He doesn’t have to try to do everything if they’re out there. | ||||||||
 B | S. Ibaka19 MIN, 7 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 3-9 FG, 0-2 3FG, 1-2 FT, 2 BLK, 0 TO, -9 +/- Two different games for Ibaka. He struggled mightily with Embiid tonight, and had some really bad minutes against the Sixers star. When he wasn’t against Embiid though, Serge was really good, with solid rim protection and good rebounding, to boot. | ||||||||
 C | N. Powell12 MIN, 0 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -7 +/- Just wasn’t Norm’s night, which was fine with the other guys who were cooking. He was great in game 5, so he gets a pass for this one. | ||||||||
 C | J. Meeks4 MIN, 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -9 +/- Meeks got one first half minute, presumably in OG’s spot with Anunoby still out, and other than that just had some rough garbage minutes. | ||||||||
 C | P. McCaw3 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -6 +/- Got a few garbage minutes at the end, and the Raptors have been bad in those minutes, but that’s why they’re garbage time lineups. | ||||||||
 C | M. Miller3 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -7 +/- Missed a couple decent looks in garbage time, and it was good to have more of those minutes in the playoffs. | ||||||||
 C | J. Lin3 MIN, 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -6 +/- Unfortunately Lin is relegated to garbage minutes in the playoffs, and he hasn’t shown much in those opportunities to get any real minutes. | ||||||||
 C | E. Moreland3 MIN, 0 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -7 +/- Moreland grabbed a couple boards and played okay defense in garbage time. | ||||||||
 B+ | Nick Nurse I’d love to give Nurse a higher grade, because his gameplan with the starters was fantastic, and he made some great adjustments as the game went on, particularly to take away Tobias Harris, but the bench lineups continue to struggle both in terms of rotation and execution, and that’s going to bite the Raptors at some point if it’s not addressed. Still, outside of those lineups, this was a very well coached game. | ||||||||
Things We Saw
- The Raptors made Embiid struggle, and that’s important for this series. They defended him really well, and took away his opportunities to pass out, while limiting his free throws. That’s what you have to do to beat Philly.
- Toronto didn’t actually shoot particularly well, but the star power was the difference in this one. Siakam and Leonard were terrific throughout, and that makes up for a lot of other issues. Still, Philadelphia will likely focus on limiting them more at some point in this series, and the other guys will have to step up more.
- The bench has to find something to contribute. Just 10 points isn’t enough for those guys, and they have to find a way to give the Raptors some sort of contribution to help the team win games.
- Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptor. He’s incredible, and this was one of the most dominant performances of his career. There is no answer for him when he’s hitting shots like this.
