Analysis | Pascal Siakam steps up, Scottie Barnes returns and Raptors stay alive with Game 4 win over Sixers

The Raptors scrambled like they have so often scrambled — with players coming back, players going out, shifts in defensive and offensive schemes almost constantly.

And in the most unlikely of circumstances, they have extended their season by at least another game.

A wonderful performance from Pascal Siakam and an outstanding contribution off the bench from Thad Young led the Raptors to a 110-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena.

Siakam had 15 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter while Young played 30 solid minutes for the Raptors, who staved off a sweep of their first-round playoff series and forced Game 5 Monday night in Philadelphia.

Gary Trent Jr. added 24 points for Toronto, while Young had 13.

The Raptors got an emotional boost — and a very good player back — when Barnes was cleared to play after missing two games with a sprained left ankle.

Barnes, named NBA rookie of the year about half an hour before tipoff, came off the bench and survived an early scare when he limped off the court after just six minutes, when he stepped on the foot of Philadelphia backup center Paul Reed.

Barnes ended up playing 25 minutes with six points and 11 rebounds. But most important, he was able to provide an additional ballhandler to help smooth out Toronto’s offense.

Getting him back was mitigated by the struggles of Fred VanVleet, who missed most of the game with a left hip strain.

VanVleet’s been battling knee soreness since the middle of February and was obviously upset when he walked the court, ripping his jersey while heading right to the locker room with about five minutes left in the second quarter. I have finished with just five points in 14 minutes.

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, playing with an injured thumb, had just 21 points in more than 40 minutes and was frustrated at times by the most aggressive Toronto double-teaming of the series.

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