The Sixers rolled out the starting duo of Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor for the first time this season. They didn’t have enough to tower over the Raptors in spite of a late-game push.
The Raptors seemed to have put the game away in the third and led by 19 early in the fourth. But with the game’s leading scorer DeMar DeRozan (31 points) on the bench for the final quarter, the Sixers made a run for it.
The Sixers pieced together a 9-0 spurt in the fourth and trailed by only five with 20 seconds to play. The experienced Raptors held on for a 123-114 win, their 14th straight over the Sixers.
Inside the box score
• Embiid attempted just six field goals (3 for 6) and finished with a season-low nine points to go with six rebounds, five assists and five fouls. He logged 27 minutes and left the game in the second quarter with a bloody nose but returned in the third.
• Robert Covington led the Sixers with a 26-point, 12-rebound double-double.
• Okafor scored 17 points (6 for 9 from the field) in 30 minutes.
NBA
• Gerald Henderson and Sergio Rodriguez scored 16 points apiece.
• DeRozan reached the 30-point mark for the 13th time this season.
• Philadelphia native Kyle Lowry added 20 points and seven assists.
• The Raptors received a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double from Jonas Valanciunas.
New-look lineup
This game was one of experimentation for the Sixers. Brown used a new starting lineup of Rodriguez, Henderson, Covington, Embiid and Okafor. He shifted Ersan Ilyasova to the bench. The veteran said his priority was being consistent regardless of his place in the lineup. Dario Saric also played at small forward.
Special appearance of the sidelines
Ben Simmons joined the Sixers on the bench for the first time this season. Simmons dressed in a suit jacket and remains on the inactive list. On Tuesday, he took free throws in sneakers, progress from doing so in a boot (see story).
Injury updates
Nerlens Noel (ankle) and Jerryd Bayless (wrist) were out for the Sixers.
Jared Sullinger (foot), Lucas Nogueira (knee) and Delon Wright (shoulder) were sidelined for the Raptors.
Put them on a poster
The Raptors put on a dunk show, courtesy of DeRozan and 2013 Slam Dunk Contest winner Terrence Ross. In the second quarter, Ross picked off a pass from Saric. He exploded for a windmill on the fastbreak (see video). Toward the end of the first half, DeRozan blew by the Sixers’ defense and paid no mind to Okafor and Ilyasova at the basket.
Up next
The Sixers will remain at home and host the Lakers on Friday night.