VanVleet scores 32 to help Raptors fend off 76ers
Philly loses third in a row without Embiid in lineup
PHILADELPHIA — Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet hit back-to-back 3-pointers over the final 1:10 to lift the Toronto Raptors past the Philadelphia 76ers, 115-109 on Thursday night.
VanVleet hit six 3s and scored 32 points, and Trent added 20 to help the Raptors knock off the undermanned Sixers. The Raptors lost to Boston on the front end of a back-to-back but the late 3s rallied them to a nice road victory.
Joel Embiid, who has missed three games, and Isaiah Joe and Matisse Thybulle are still in the NBA’s health and safety protocols and sat out again. Seth Curry did return from a foot injury and Tobias Harris scored 19 points in his return from a six-game absence after testing positive for COVID-19.
“We just need bodies. He’s a warm body. The fact that he’s one of our better players helps,” coach Doc Rivers said.
The Sixers need more reinforcements and have lost three straight games. Tyrese Maxey did score 33 points for the Sixers.
Andre Drummond had put the Sixers ahead 109-107 with 1:44 left and then followed with a blocked shot on the next possession that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Trent, though, hit the 3 with 1:10 left that put the Raptors ahead.
The Raptors led most of the fourth quarter until the Sixers went on a late run. Shake Milton hit a 3 and his baseline drive cut it to 92-89 before Harris scored to bring the Sixers within one. VanVleet and Svi Mykhailiuk, though, each buried 3-pointers that stretched the lead and OG Anunoby dunked off a turnover.
Anunoby then hit a 3, one of 14 for the
Raptors.
PACERS 111, JAZZ 100: In Salt Lake City, Malcolm Brogdon scored a seasonhigh 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Indiana to a victory over Utah.
Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points for Utah, which lost at home for the first time this season. Rudy Gobert added 19 points and 11 rebounds, but they were among four players ejected in the fourth quarter after a scuffle.
T.J. McConnell added 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists off the bench for the Pacers. Myles Turner had 13 points and nine rebounds in Indiana’s second road win of the season.
CLIPPERS 112, HEAT 109: In Los Angeles, Paul George scored 27 points, Reggie Jackson added all of his 22 points in the second half and streaking Los Angeles
hung on to beat Miami for its sixth straight win.
Eric Bledsoe had 21 points and Ivica Zubac finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who trailed by 17 points in the first quarter.
Note
WARRIORS: Klay Thompson’s eagerly anticipated return to the Warriors may happen a little sooner than expected.
The Golden State star now appears on track to possibly play as soon as Dec. 20 against Sacramento at Chase Center, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Warriors officials had loosely set Christmas time as the earliest possible target date for Thompson’s return, after ACL and Achilles injuries sidelined him the past two seasons.