Charles Barkley says Sixers are ‘not going to win Game 6 in Toronto’ as Philly fans boo own team during loss to Raptors


Has the momentum shifted to the Raptors in their best-of-seven playoff matchup against the 76ers?

Some NBA pundits think so. And perhaps Sixers fans, too.

After a strong defensive 103-88 win over Philadelphia in enemy territory Monday night, Toronto has again staved off elimination and forced a Game 6 on Thursday. It was particularly a strong game for both Pascal Siakam, who had 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and Precious Achiuwa, who had 17 points off the bench.

While the 76ers still have the upper hand, with a chance to close it out in a couple days in Toronto, the back-to-back losses to the Raptors in series-clinching games may have planted seeds of doubt.

NBA on TNT analyst and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley says the Sixers had their chance to close it out at home and blew it.

“When you have a chance to close out at home, you better freaking do it,” Barkley said during his post-game analysis. “Because what’s happening now, and Shaq agrees with me, they are not going to win Game 6 in Toronto.”

Speaking of Shaq, who sits on the same TNT panel as Barkley, the basketball legend had originally predicted that Toronto was “going to be swept” at the beginning of the series. Now he’s saying Game 6 is a “must-win” for the Sixers.

And Philly fans are getting a little restless despite still leading the series 3-2. They were already booing when the Raptors went on a 12-0 run to start the second quarter. They booed again in the dying minutes of the game, especially after an emphatic dunk from OG Anunoby.

And when fans start to feel demoralized, they tend to leave early, which is what they did last night.

Game 6 is 7 pm on Thursday at home. If the Raptors win, Game 7 will be Saturday in Philadelphia with a time to be determined.

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