Raptors feel Poeltl's absence in loss to Sixers

"Even though Joel Embiid was a on a minutes restriction, the Raptors missed dearly, Jakob Poeltl's inside presence. The Sixers won 64-38 in points in the paint. Embiid and Trenton Watford were a combined 12-for-16 in there - Embiid 6-9; Watford, 6-7. And superstar Tyrese Maxey was getting drives and finishing at the rim, unlike the persistent habit of his Raptor doppelgänger, IQ."

"The Raptors had an unreal start to the first quarter, scoring 8-10 from downtown en route to 43 points. They led Philly by 10 points, but their shooting eventually cooled off. In the second quarter, the Raptors went 3-8 from downtown, but they scored 0 - donuts! - points in the paint and by halftime, the Sixers dominates the Raptors inside with a 32-6 discrepancy in points in the paint."

"It was a four-point game to start the final quarter, but in a game that's won on the margins, it could really could have been a so many different factors to change the final outcome. Not turning the ball over on a pick-and-rolls (though this wasn't common and the Raptors had 10 turnovers). IQ being aware of the shot clock at the end of the game. Gradey Dick hitting another three or Ja'Kobe finishing at the rim after Scottie rifled a pass from the perimeter."

The Sixers controlled the interior, outscoring the Raptors 64-38 in points in the paint and establishing a 32-6 halftime advantage inside. Joel Embiid and Trenton Watford combined for 12-for-16 in the paint, while Tyrese Maxey attacked and finished effectively at the rim. The Raptors started hot from three, scoring 43 first-quarter points and shooting 8-for-10 from deep, but second-quarter interior scoring vanished. Scottie Barnes provided scoring and defense in the third and briefly tied the game, but Sixers runs and Raptors turnovers shifted momentum and determined the final margin.

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