Sixers Bell Ringer: Game 24 - Sixers survive late scare to top Raptors

For a refresher on our Bell Ringer series, take a look back at our first post of the season.

Bell Ringer Standings

Josh Richardson - 5
Tobias Harris - 5
Ben Simmons - 5
Joel Embiid - 4
Furkan Korkmaz - 1
Al Horford - 1
Matisse Thybulle - 1
James Ennis - 1

The Raptors have been a problem for the Sixers in the 2019 calendar year, one Brett Brown’s club looked to have solved in taking an 18-point lead into the fourth quarter Sunday night at home. However, what became a 20-point advantage with six minutes remaining gradually started dwindling down. Toronto went to a full-court press and the Sixers had difficulty even getting the ball past half-court in the allotted eight seconds without turning it over. Philadelphia was finally saved by the final bell sounding. Perhaps a couple minutes more and the Raptors could have made up the deficit, but it still turned what should have been a celebratory win into a bitter-tasting victory.

Yet, 12-0 at home. Denver comes next on Tuesday. Here are your Bell Ringer candidates:

Tobias Harris: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Tobias has been the offensive engine of late for Philadelphia, and Sunday night was no different with Harris kick-starting the attack with 11 first-quarter points. On the game’s opening possession, Tobi came off a Joel Embiid screen and went right at Marc Gasol for a swooping lay-in.

Time after time, Harris navigated into open space to pull up for a short jumper or get to the rack. He also displayed a quick release from behind the arc, going 4-of-8, his four makes tying a season-high. Harris’ drive-and-dish to Ben Simmons under the basket was one of the few bright spots in the last two minutes. Especially with Josh Richardson sidelined recently, the Sixers have really needed someone to step up and assume more of the scoring load, and Tobi has answered the call.

Matisse Thybulle: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

They grow up so fast. The Sixers’ first-round pick went off tonight for a career-high 20 points, knocking down 5-of-8 shots from behind the arc, including a 4-point play at the first-quarter buzzer. I loved the display of confidence from Thybulle in the fourth quarter, seeing him receive the pass on the wing, fake to Raul Neto in the corner, and rise up for 3.

The defensive work is still there; Matisse made a tremendous play late in the second quarter to jump a passing lane for a deflection and scoop up the loose ball for a slam on the other end. The game is slowing down for him; he is taking fewer wild shots and making the extra pass. The team threw him to the wolves having him out there late against that Toronto press, but Matisse was tremendous tonight.

Ben Simmons: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 turnovers

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

For the first 45-or-so minutes of the game, it looked like Ben had a tremendous follow-up to his illustrious Saturday night performance. Toronto plays Simmons tighter than most teams, allowing him to utilize more pick-and-roll action to flow downhill and throw down some vicious dunks. His defensive work on Pascal Siakam was outstanding; the Raptors star was 3-of-12 from the field for 6 points through the first three quarters, before racking up some stats in the late flurry.

Alas, the last few minutes were a poor showing for Simmons. He often ran away from the ball; some might be inclined to say he didn’t want to get fouled. One night after Brett Brown said he wanted to see one 3 and eight free throws per game from Ben, he shot zero 3s, and more concerning, zero free throws. With the game unraveling, you want your star point guard to take control. Ben did not do that tonight.

Al Horford: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

If Al Horford played hockey, he would make for a heck of penalty killer. On multiple occasions, Big Al stood tall back there as the last line of difference with the Raptors coming at him on a man-advantage fast break. Somehow, Horford seemed to make the best of such situations, getting a deflection or, on this play, blocking Serge Ibaka to stop a 4-on-1 fast break.

Even on a night like Sunday night when he didn’t hit a 3 or have a huge scoring performance, Horford is still such a huge asset on the court. Whether it’s making the extra pass, or the help-side rotation to stymie the opposition, Al really fills in the blanks for this rotation.