Raptors’ Leonard takes over with double-double

Without All-Star Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors might be eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

With him, Toronto still has a chance to advance to the next round.

The Raptors evened their Eastern Conference semifinal against the 76ers at two games apiece with a 101-96 victory Sunday in Philadelphia.

Leonard continued his fantastic playoffs with 39 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. His 3-pointer with 1:01 left as the 24-second shot clock expired gave Toronto a 94-90 lead, and the Raptors secured the victory at the free throw line.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Toronto. Toronto received improved offensive production from guard Kyle Lowry and center Marc Gasol. Lowry had 14 points and seven assists, and Gasol had 16 points.

The Raptors regained home-court advantage in the process, and after losing Games 2 and 3, they came through with a necessary victory, turning the series into a best-of-three.

Leonard, who has scored at least 30 points in all four games of the series, had 14 points in the third quarter, going 5-for-6 from the field and 3-for-3 on 3pointers. For the game, he was 13-for-20 and 5-for-7.

Through four games, Leonard is averaging 38 points, nine rebounds and four assists and is shooting 61.8% from the field and 46.4% on 3-pointers.

Jimmy Butler led the Sixers with 29 points and 11 rebounds.

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid, feeling under the weather again, had a subpar scoring performance with 11 points. He took just seven field goal attempts. Embiid contributed eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks, but the Sixers needed his scoring.

“I got a text from him at 6:20 a.m. this morning telling me he didn’t sleep all night, and he really hasn’t ever felt this poorly and was unsure if he was going to play,” Sixers coach Brett Brown told reporters.