Raptors get back to winning ways

PHILADELPHIA — After a buzzer-beating threepointer put the 76ers on the ropes, Kyle Lowry had fellow Philly native and boxer Danny Garcia at his side in the locker-room for a post-game celebration.

They were there for the latest KO against the Sixers.

Lowry scored 23 points and Luis Scola had 21 to help the Toronto Raptors snap a three-game losing streak with a 119-103 victory over the winless Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

One year after starting 0-17, the sorry Sixers have lost their first eight games of this season.

Philadelphia has lost 18 straight games dating to March 27, 2015. That’s the fourth-longest mark in franchise history, one shy of the 19 straight dropped from March 21, 1972, to Nov. 10, 1972.

The Sixers matched an NBA record with 26 straight losses from Jan. 31, 2014, to March 27, 2014, and also lost 20 straight from Jan. 9, 1973, to Feb. 11, 1973.

“You just can’t get into a pity party,” coach Brett Brown said. “You have to deal with it and try to figure out ways to try and steal a win.”

The Sixers would have to pull off some grand theft to win during a difficult upcoming stretch, with games ahead against Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Dallas.

Lowry, a Philadelphia native who played two seasons at Villanova, heard polite applause during pregame introductions and gave hometown fans plenty of reason to cheer. He scored 14 points in the first half, capped by a 27-footer with 0.9 seconds left to send the Raptors into halftime with a 63-57 lead.

“I always think every time I shoot, it’s going in,” Lowry said.

Lowry left about 65 tickets for friends and family and was sleeping in his own bed Wednesday night before meeting up later with the Raptors.

“It’s always good to come home,” Lowry said. “We played our game.”