Recap: Toronto vs. Philadelphia
Sports Network | November 12, 2008
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Elton Brand scored a season-high 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers downed Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors 106-96.
Andre Iguodala had 18 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds for Philadelphia, which snapped a three-game skid. Andre Miller also scored 18 points, and Willie Green contributed 17 points and nine assists off the bench for the Sixers, who avenged an 11-point loss at home to the Raptors on October 29.
Bosh scored 30 points and raked in 12 rebounds, but the Raptors still suffered their second straight loss. Jermaine O'Neal had 19 points and 11 boards for Toronto, which has dropped four of five after winning three straight to start the season, including the season-opener in Philadelphia.
Toronto battled back from early 17-point deficit, pulling to within striking distance of the Sixers several times, but were never able to overtake the visitors. After a Bosh jumper cut the deficit to 85-80 early in the fourth quarter, a quick 8-0 Sixers push, capped by a driving Iguodala dunk, put Philadelphia up 93-80 with 6:52 to play.
Toronto never threatened again, as the Sixers picked up their first road win of the season in their fourth try.
The Raptors opened cold from beyond the arc, and the Sixers took advantage with two 8-0 runs, the second pushing Philadelphia ahead 22-11 with 2:44 left in the quarter. Philadelphia led 26-13 after the first quarter.
Philadelphia kept the pace up early in the second quarter, pushing its lead to 17 points after rookie forward Mareese Speights drained two free throws and nailed a jumper on consecutive possessions for a 37-20 Sixers advantage with 8:05 left.
The Raptors came roaring back, though, all but erasing the deficit with a 25-9 push. Toronto closed that run with 14-2 spurt, powered by eight points from Bosh. Bosh scored the last six points of the push, including a tip shot with 1:20 to play in the half that sliced the Sixers lead to 46-45.
Philadelphia led 51-45 at the half.
Toronto came as close as four points in the third quarter, pulling within 64-60 on two O'Neal free throws with 5:39 left in the frame, but Brand and Miller each made jumpers to restore an eight-point edge. The Sixers took a 78-71 lead into the final 12 minutes.
Raptors guard Jose Calderon left in the third quarter with a hamstring cramp...Bosh picked up his fourth double-double of the season, while O'Neal tallied his second...Speights scored 12 points and had seven boards in 20 minutes. He saw more time because starting center Samuel Dalembert was limited to 20 minutes because of foul trouble.
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