BOX SCORE
TORONTO -- The Sixers played their 11th road game in their last 13 contests on Wednesday night in Toronto, a stretch that started 23 days ago with a game in Dallas.
The Sixers lacked a flow to their game at the offensive end of the floor but still managed to hang around in the first half. However, the Sixers were then outscored by 16 points in the second half and were handed a 90-72 loss by the Raptors.
The defeat was the Sixers fifth in a row and dropped their record to 15-22.
Jason Richardson sat the game out with head coach Doug Collins electing to give the 12-year veteran a night of rest. Over the last month, Richardson is shooting 38 percent from the floor and 27 percent from behind the arc.
Dorell Wright started in place of Richardson, his seventh start this season. He played 32 minutes and scored just seven points.
Turning pointThe Sixers ultimate demise again came in the third quarter.
Tuesday night, the Sixers were outscored 35-14 by the Nets in the third quarter to turn a one-point deficit into 22.
Wednesday against the Raptors, the Sixers trailed 44-42 at intermission. Toronto came out and shot 63 percent in the third quarter, outscoring the Sixers 29-21 to hold a 10-point advantage heading into the final quarter.
Follow the leaderFour Raptors scored in double figures with DeMar DeRozan leading the way with 19 points. Jose Calderon, who notoriously plays well against the Sixers, scored 10 of his 14 points in the third quarter when Toronto created separation. He also had 11 assists to mark his third straight double-double against the Sixers. Amir Johnson had 19 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double this season.
Thaddeus Young scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Jrue Holiday had 16 points and four assists.
Stat-egicThe Sixers trailed 71-61 heading into the fourth quarter. They are now 1-21 when trailing after three quarters and are 14-0 when taking a lead into the final 12 minutes.
Take a bowLandry Fields was selected ninth overall in the 2010 NBA draft by the Knicks. He averaged 9.7 points per game as a rookie and 8.8 points his second season.
After signing with the Raptors last offseason, Fields missed 20 games because of a hand injury. When Fields returned in mid-December, it took him five games to break head coach Dwayne Caseys rotation.
Wednesday night, Fields made his sixth start of the season. He led the Raptors in rebounding with a season-high 11 boards to go with his season-high 10 points.
Whats next?The Sixers next game will be Saturday at home against the Houston Rockets. On Dec. 19., the Sixers lost 125-103 in Houston. The Sixers were without Jrue Holiday that night with the point guard sidelined because of a sprained foot. Evan Turner suffered a sprained ankle in the third quarter of that game.
James Harden scored 17 of his game-high 33 points at the foul line, while Jeremy Lin made 8 of 12 shots for 18 points.
Houston shot 56 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three-point range. The Rockets continue to lead the league in scoring with 106.8 points per game.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.