RECAP: Sixers Take Game 2 In Toronto, Even The Series 1-1
After a disappointing performance in game 1 in a 108-95 loss, the pressure was on early in the series for the Sixers. Even though it was only game 2 and another game on the road, falling down 2-0 to Toronto was a scary thought.
Going into the game there was worry Joel Embiid would not play, but this time not because of his knee, because of his stomach. After the game, Joel said, “If you’ve had the sh–s before, you’d know how it feels.” Thankfully, Joel still played and the Sixers walked out of the six with a winning evening up the series as we head home.
The game opened up and right away you could see the Sixers defense was improved from game 1. Ben Simmons was attached to Kawhi Leonard’s hip, as he was all night. The Sixers defense catapulted them to a 9 point lead at the end of the 1st quarter. The Sixers kept their foot on the Raptors throat in the 2nd quarter and went into the half with a 51-38 lead. The biggest surprises of the 1st half were Greg Monroe and James Ennis both playing valuable minutes coming off the bench.
The 2nd half opened up and immediately the Raptors started making a run. Kawhi Leonard started getting his and they looked like a different team. They outscored the Sixers 25-18 in the quarter, but the Sixers still led 69-63. The pressure was really on in the 4th, the last thing the Sixers needed was to blow a big lead on the road and fall down 2 games in the series. The 4th quarter was wire to wire but thanks to Jimmy Butler’s huge 4th quarter and Joel Embiid’s huge bucket very late, the Sixers took home a win 94-89.
Final Stats
- Jimmy Butler – 30 PTS / 11 REB / 5 AST
- James Ennis III – 13 PTS / 6 REB / 2 AST
- Joel Embiid – 12 PTS / 6 REB / 5 AST
- JJ Reddick – 11 PTS / 3 REB
- Greg Monroe – 10 PTS / 5 REB
- Tobias Harris – 9 PTS / 11 REB / 4 AST
- Ben Simmons – 6 PTS / 7 REB / 5 AST
- Jonah Bolden – 3 PTS / 2 REB
Some big takeaways from this game were: Jimmy’s clutch 4th quarter performance, which we will need more of, and Jimmy shooting more threes this game, going 4/10 from three. Ben’s defense on Kawhi, even though Ben didn’t play great offensively, was important. Kawhi may have scored 35, but Ben helped slow him down and should continue guarding him all series.
Lastly, Joel Embiid had a sup-bar performance and still hit the game-sealing shot while the Sixers took the win. He was playing through stomach issues and underperformed for most of the game and we still won, which is very promising. We will all be looking to him to bounce back in Game 3 and have a big game.
Heading home for games 3 and 4 the Sixers will have a great opportunity to put their foot on Toronto’s throat if they can take care of business at home. I except WFC to be nothing less than insane on Thursday.
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