VanVleet, Trent hit late 3s to lift Raptors to win

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, 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 9289 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. BULLS’ VUCEVIC TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 » Chicago Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic was placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Thursday with multiple reports saying he tested positive for COVID-19.

The Bulls listed Vucevic as out for Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors on their injury report.

According to NBC Chicago, Vucevic isn’t traveling for the five-game Western road trip that starts with the game against the Warriors. He will miss at least 10 days.

LAKERS’ REAVES OUT WITH HAMSTRING STRAIN » Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard Austin Reaves will miss at least two weeks after being diagnosed with a strained left hamstring. The Lakers said Reaves will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Reaves sat out Wednesday’s victory over the Miami Heat.