Toronto Raptors Roundup: Stories and Highlights From Week Three

Philadelphia at Toronto

What a difference a day makes.

The Raptors bounced back after a lacklustre performance against the Bucks with a 129-112 victory against the 76’ers at home Tuesday night. The Raptors improved to 2-0 in the second game of back-to-backs with the win.

The Raptors looked like a different team playing with greater purpose, improved defence, and a stronger bench performance.

By halftime, the Raptors had forced 15 turnovers with nine steals, scoring 17 on fast breaks.

The bench, who were badly outplayed the game before, returned to fine form led by Jonas Valanciunas who had a nice bounce-back performance, scoring 15 first-half points and 23 in total after a tough night in Wisconsin.

Credit Kyle Lowry, who also looked more like his usual self, accumulating another double-double, scoring 20 points and adding 12 more assists, including a three-point dagger to seal the game.

Kawhi Leonard, whose impact can not be understated, returned scoring 31 points, adding seven boards and four steals. His hands were in every 76’er scrum forcing tips and turnovers.

Philadelphia played a sloppy first three-quarters, turning the ball over 23 times, trailing by double digits at the beginning of the fourth. Ben Simmons had 11 turnovers himself, despite scoring a triple-double.

A crippling fourth quarter Philly run, largely due to second-chance points and an onslaught of threes, brought the game to a six-point Raptor lead until Kawhi Leonard forced another steal leading to a Siakam bucket.

The Raptors improved to 7-1 with the win, while Philadelphia, who has struggled out of the gate, is now 4-4.

Fred VanVleet and O.G. Anunoby were both out again.

Read our Three Takeaways here.