76ers advance to semifinals vs. Heat after blasting Raptors in Game 6

The Philadelphia 76ers ended the Toronto Raptors’ bid to become the first team to overcome a 0-3 deficit in the playoffs, with a 132-97 victory that closed the series at 4-2 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

With the victory, the Sixers advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the top-seeded Miami Heat.

The 76ers’s offensive attack

Joel Embiid, who was playing through a thumb injury, led the charge with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, while young guard Tyrese Maxey had a standout performance, contributing 25 points and eight assists.

James Harden put in 22 points, six rebounds, and 15 assists- a performance of redemption after recording an average of 18.4 points and 9.2 assists over the first five games in the postseason.

It seems that he listened to what Embiid had to say about his disappointing performance in their last loss to the Raptors. The MVP candidate criticized the 2018 MVP, saying he should have played more aggressively.

The 76ers avoid heartbreak

The Sixers had been leading the series 3-0 and looked set for a sweep, but Toronto bounced back to win the next two games. There was speculation that Philadelphia might face another disheartening outcome in the playoffs.

Their situation looked tenuous after the first half of Game 6 with Philadelphia holding a mere one point lead, 62-61, but they started the second half with a blazing offensive salvo that took them quickly to a 13-point advantage. The 76ers pulled away without looking back with a 30-9 run in just over eight minutes in the third quarter.

Philadelphia will have three days to recover before they face the Miami Heat in Game 1 on Monday night.