PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers overcame a sluggish start and a major injury scare to defeat the Toronto Raptors 123-112 on Thursday, November 12, improving their season record to 10-3.
Playing without LeBron James, who missed his third game of the season due to a back injury, the 76ers relied on Tyrese Maxey’s 27 points and 20 points from Joel Embiid. Jaylen Brown chipped in 18 points against his former team, helping Philadelphia bounce back from a 123-101 loss to the Boston Celtics earlier in the week.
The short-handed Raptors, playing the second night of a back-to-back without Kawhi Leonard (knee) and Scottie Barnes (groin), built an early 16-point lead in the opening half. RJ Barrett led Toronto with 31 points and Immanuel Quickley added 25, but the visitors ultimately fell as their skid reached four losses in five games.
Philadelphia’s victory nearly took a devastating turn in the first quarter when Embiid, who had been listed as questionable with a foot injury before tipoff, crumpled to the floor clutching his right knee after colliding with Quickley. However, the 76ers’ star center returned later in the period to a roaring ovation from the home crowd.
After trailing early, Philadelphia seized momentum late in the third quarter to take a 96-87 lead into the final frame.
Although Toronto trimmed the deficit to six points on a 3-pointer by Jamison Battle with 4:42 remaining, the 76ers responded with a 10-3 run capped by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 3-pointer to seal the win.
Timberwolves Rout Mavericks in Minnesota
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, LaMelo Ball scored 22 points and dished out a season-high nine assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a dominant 133-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks for their fifth consecutive win.
Bones Hyland led the Timberwolves off the bench with 24 points, shooting a flawless stretch from beyond the arc in the first half. Ayo Dosunmu added 18 points, Jaden McDaniels had 16, and Jonathan Kuminga contributed 14 points and eight rebounds.
Minnesota shot 61% in the first half to establish a 15-point lead and blew the game open by outscoring Dallas 36-17 in the third quarter. The Timberwolves extended their lead to as many as 44 points in the fourth quarter, marking their most lopsided victory of the season and their seventh straight win against the Mavericks.
Zaccharie Risacher led Dallas with 22 points off the bench as the Mavericks had their three-game winning streak snapped. Cooper Flagg, coming off a 43-point performance against Indiana, was held to just 12 points, while Kyrie Irving scored 10 as Dallas shot a cold 37% from the field.