Raptors beat Sixers in double-overtime exhibition game
The Toronto Raptors (2-2) narrowly defeated the Philadelphia 76ers (1-4) 119-116 in a pre-season game last night at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Two overtime periods were necessary
before a winner could be pronounced in the tight affair.
DeMar DeRozan scored the go-ahead basket with 35 seconds to play in the second overtime. Amir Johnson followed up with a dunk to secure the win for the Raptors.
But it was the point guards who shone brightest in the exhibition game, with Jarrett Jack of the Raptors putting up 24 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, only to be outdone by Philadelphia’s
Jrue Holiday, who finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Both players, given more playing time than expected, admitted to being a little tired out from the game.
"Thank goodness it's over," said Jack, the fifth-year player entering his second season as a Raptor. "They're cutting into our day off."
"My feet hurt a little bit but I'm good," said Holiday, who played 32 minutes against Boston on Tuesday followed by 46 minutes last night.
Elton Brand of the Sixers added 12 points and six rebounds while Evan Turner recorded a double-double, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
DeRozan finished the game with 16 points while Leandro Barbosa chipped in with 19 points off the bench. Johnson finished with 11 points and nine rebounds with Andrea Bargnani adding 14
points and eight rebounds.
Philadelphia coach Doug Collins, who took over the team last May, said he is working long hours to improve the play of his squad.
"I'm trying to figure this team out," he said after the game. "I'm still trying to figure who can do what in what situations and it's going to continue to take me every single day. I work
12 to 14 hours a day trying to find out the best things I can do."
Jay Triano, entering his second season as Raptors coach, didn’t mind the two extra periods.
"I thought it was good to go through a game like that in pre-season," he said. "We get used to going on our offense and our defense, get used to guys running plays and having guys foul
them and try to make the plays. It's tough to duplicate that in a practice setting.”
The Raptors bounced back from a disappointing 109-90 loss Tuesday night against the Chicago Bulls, where they were out-rebounded 44-22. The Raptors showed much better effort and energy
last night, pulling down 50 boards while the Sixers nabbed 55.
"It's just effort," Jack said. “That's the number one thing the coaches have been preaching. Every night you are not going to be able to make shots. You can always have effort even if
the plays don't go your way. Effort is the one thing you can control at the end of the day, night in and night out."
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