Embiid hits a last-second 3-pointer in OT win as 76ers beat Raptors

For most of Wednesday night in Toronto, it felt like the Toronto Raptors were back in this series. So Joel Embiid blew the air out of the building.

Invigorated by the groundswell of emotion in their first playoff game at Scotiabank Arena since the 2019 NBA Finals, the Raptors led most of the game before losing 104-101 in overtime when Embiid hit the game-winning 3-pointer. match.

Now down 3-0 in the series, the Raptors risk being swept on Saturday.

It was the team’s first playoff game inside Scotiabank Arena since the 2019 NBA Finals. The Raptors, looking lost and a step too slow in Philadelphia, seemed capable of making it 2-1. But they didn’t.

OG Anunoby scored 26 points, including a key 3-pointer in overtime. Gary Trent Jr. played an unlikely hero for Toronto, providing 24 points after suffering from an illness that had plagued him for days, while Pascal Siakam added 12 points and Fred VanVleet had 12 on 3-for-13 shooting.

Embiid had 33 points and 13 rebounds for Philly, while James Harden had 19 and Tyrese Maxey had 19.

But Toronto was missing Scottie Barnes for the second straight game, after he sprained his ankle in Game 1 when Embiid landed on his foot. The NBA Rookie of the Year finalist watched from the sidelines, but this time in a medical boot. Head coach Nick Nurse speculated that he could be ready for Game 4.

Trent Jr. returned after a non-COVID-related illness made it difficult for him to breathe while running up the court in Game 2. He didn’t score in that game, but got off to a fast start Wednesday, racking up a quick seven points.

His scoring was welcome, as VanVleet struggled to hit much. Toronto’s star shooting guard went 1-for-8 before things got a little better later that night.

The Toronto fans booed Embiid relentlessly. There was a thunderous roar as Siakam stole a ball from his fellow Cameroonian in the first minute. The MVP finalist was harshly reprimanded when he tangled with Anunoby on the ground for a fumble. They sang “Embid Sucks” and much more nasty words that can’t be printed.

In Game 2, the Cameroonian big man had taken 14 free throws, more than the entire Toronto team (12). He and Nurse had a cheeky exchange about officiating, and Embiid told him to stop complaining about the calls. The head coach made it a point to make a small campaign in the days after the need for fairer arbitration on the star.

On Wednesday in Toronto, fans sitting behind the visiting basket greeted the 7-foot-tall Philly player with an especially wild swing of his thunder sticks every time he lined up for a free throw. When he threw an errant pass out of bounds, the scattered fans taunted Embiid by doing his own airplane arm celebration.

Toronto built a 17-point lead and held a 10-point lead at halftime.

Embiid had scored 50 points and grabbed 26 rebounds in the first two games, but the Raps limited the NBA’s leading scorer to just five points in the first half and two free throw attempts.

Embiid came out with a chip on his shoulder in the second half, scoring 18 points in the third quarter, including a dunk that saw him throw over Siakam.

The Raptors led 75-74 after the third quarter and the foes went bucket by bucket down the stretch of a tense quarter. The final minute included a lot of drama. First, a goal call to Anunoby and a surprising free kick missed by Harden. Precious Achiuwa then caused Harden to commit his sixth and final foul, before making his own free throws, leaving the game tied. He went into overtime.

In the extra period, Anunoby hit a monster three, but had a potential game-winning free kick roll around the rim before rebounding.

Embiid scored the game-winner with less than a second remaining in overtime.

Game 4 takes place in Toronto on Saturday at 2 pm ET, and Game 5 will be played in Philadelphia on Monday. As the highest seed in this series, the 76ers would host a possible Game 7.