Sixers Fall to Raptors Despite 29 from MCW

By Max Rappaport, Sixers.com

Entering Wednesday’s meeting with the Toronto Raptors, the Sixers knew they would be without Tony Wroten, who didn’t make the trip north of the border due to a right knee sprain. What they didn’t know was that Robert Covington would be a late scratch with a right shoulder contusion and that All Star DeMar DeRozan would return after missing the Raptors’ previous 21 games due to an injured groin.

Undermanned and on the second night of back-to-back games against the #1 (Hawks) and #3 (Raptors) teams in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia fought hard but couldn’t eek out a win as they fell 100-84.

The final score belied a strong effort by the Sixers, who started out the game down 13-0 and worked their way back from a 16-point second-quarter deficit to make it a four-point game at halftime. It was only in the game’s final minutes that the Raptors pulled away, sparked by eight points each for DeRozan and Kyle Lowry in the final frame.

“We are seeing young players grow before our eyes,” said head coach Brett Brown. “Our second period was probably as good a period as we’ve played all year, and we have a lot of respect for this program. As I said at the start, we feel we can learn from Toronto in our pursuit of rebuilding a program in Philadelphia. I was proud of our guys tonight.”

Michael Carter-Williams finished with a season-high 29 points (12/25 FG) to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Nerlens Noel added 12 points (5/9 FG), eight rebounds, three steals, and a block, and K.J. McDaniels scored 10 points despite a 2-for-10 shooting performance and blocked four shots.

“I thought that we made great improvement from the last time that we played them,” said Noel, comparing this game to a 33-point loss in Toronto earlier this season. “I thought we came out and played a lot harder, especially from last night. It was closer to the effort that we want, to move the ball a little better. We are not all the way there but definitely a little closer. I think we played hard tonight and that is what it is all about.

The Sixers are back in action Friday at home against Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans at 7pm (EST).