After failing at their first two chances to eliminate the Toronto Raptors, the third time was the charm for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The lead was slim at halftime, with Philadelphia leading Toronto 62-61 at the break. In the third quarter, though, the close game became a laugher. The 76ers outscored the Raptors 37-17 in the third quarter to open up a 99-78 lead, effectively putting the game away.
corner 👌! pic.twitter.com/7EiXvm0Z0N
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 29, 2022
signature step. 🖊️ pic.twitter.com/VcGN7rrg10
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 29, 2022
In the end, Philadelphia was on the right side of a 132-97 win, clinching the series in the process.
PHILLY ISN'T DONE YET 🔔
The @sixers dominate the Raptors in Toronto to book their spot in the Second Round! pic.twitter.com/KRSaerZyAo
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 29, 2022
Both the 76ers and Raptors got a lot of attention from NBA fans watching the game.
76ers played tough.
— Jason Briggs – Anthem Arcane — Ownes 80,000 bands (@JasonBr25485875) April 29, 2022
#payback we’re not the North! https://t.co/NrVWWm0f37
— Samuel Cosby (@samuelcosby2) April 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/HamzaWithAnH/status/1519843274902900736
Doc Rivers beat the blown lead allegations pic.twitter.com/9Ml4xCnjQn
— brian cvrter (@briancvrter) April 29, 2022
Doc Rivers: pic.twitter.com/IBXK2hD5DQ
— Mikescottfan1 (@Mikescottfan1) April 29, 2022
Let's Go Cancun!!! @Drake @Raptors pic.twitter.com/3dAq4zemaj
— 2KGodOfficial (@2KGodOfficial) April 29, 2022
raptors tonight #PHIvsTOR #wethenorth pic.twitter.com/u2XCkifw7Y
— ness (@nessuhhr) April 29, 2022
The Toronto fans were not especially friendly to Philadelphia star Joel Embiid, hitting him with some decidedly non-PG chants. But that didn’t seem to bother him. He finished the game with 33 points and 10 rebounds. James Harden had a double-double, as well, scoring 22 points and dishing out 15 assists.
It was a tense few days for the 76ers. After opening up a 3-0 lead, news broke that Embiid was dealing with a thumb injury. Philadelphia lost Game 4 in Toronto 110-102 and more shockingly, was drubbed 103-88 at home in a potential Game 5 clincher. That no doubt made things more tense than the 76ers would have liked. Despite that, they got the result they needed.
Philadelphia will now take on the East’s No. 1 seed, the Miami Heat.
Embiid vs Bam.
Harden vs Jimmy.This is gonna be fun. pic.twitter.com/BHTK3QuL2p
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 29, 2022
That series will get underway on Monday, May 2.
