D for three Raptors hold Sixers to 22 (!) in second half to win third straight, leaving Calderon in stitches,
Airtight second half holds Sixers to 22 for third straight victory
PHILADELPHIA— They had a one-eyed point guard and a starting small forward benched for some transgression. They had two D-leaguers in significant roles and a backup guard back home in Toronto nursing a sore knee. They had shown a proclivity all year for playing just bad enough for just long enough to lose, to have a five- or six- minute mental hiccup that ruined what could have been enjoyable nights. But in what has to be one of their more impressive victories, all things considered, the Raptors rode one of the best halves of defence in franchise history to a 99-78 drubbing of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center here Wednesday night. It was a victory that really came out of nowhere, but one that showed the players are still taking coach Dwane Casey’s teachings to heart. “We’re playing hard when we’re outside looking in with really nothing to play for,” Casey said. “It’s not like we’re pressing the hammer on them. . . . I told them all these games are for pride. That way you don’t go home this summer and regret anything you did this season.” There’s no reason for any of them to feel anything but pride in the aftermath of the victory, which gave Toronto its first three-game winning streak since a four-gamer from Nov. 17-24, 2010. After a rather entertaining but defensively inept first half —the Sixers led 56-55 at the break — the Raptors put on one of the best halves of defence in franchise history. They held Philadelphia to 15 points in the third quarter and just seven in the fourth, with the 22point total being the lowest scoring half by a Raptor opponent ever.
They goaded Philadelphia into 13 straight misses in one lengthy stretch of the fourth quarter and won going away instead of fading when the game got tough.
“We stopped them really well. Nobody quit,” said Jose Calderon, who played the second half with a four-stitch cut over his right eye and some swelling — the result of an accidental elbow — that made his peripheral vision almost non-existent.
“I knew it was a more important game for them than for us, but still, we fight every night.
“I think that’s the change of this team, the change of culture and philosophy we’ve been talking about all year. We’re competing against every team in this league and it’s good. Every guy in this room is getting better, is improving.”
The Raptors needed Calderon, even with his eyesight affected, because Gary Forbes remained back in Toronto with a sore left knee and James Johnson spent the entire night nailed to the bench.
Casey tried to explain Johnson’s benching in part as a way for the Raptors to get a good, long look at Alan Anderson — Johnson hinted at there being a bit more to it. There was no more elaboration.
“It’s internal,” said Johnson, who wouldn’t speculate if he’d be back in the lineup Friday against Cleveland. “I’m just going to have to deal with it like a man.”
Anderson, meanwhile, took full advantage of his first start since 2006, scoring 13 points in 31 minutes. And Ben Uzoh, the other DLeaguer whose 10-day deal expires Friday, had six points, four assists and four rebounds while providing the sight-challenged Calderon with some much-needed relief.
Andrea Bargnani had 24 points for Toronto, Demar Derozan added 18 and Calderon had a double-double of 12 points and 14 assists, while Ed Davis had a huge game with 13 boards.
“The young man, Ben Uzoh, from where he came from, the D-league to actually playing in an NBA game, did a heck of a job — not really having time to know our offence, the nuances, the second options,” said Casey.