Raptors Destroy Sixers in Game 5, Push Philly to Brink of Elimination

On Tuesday night, the Toronto Raptors could not play a more perfect game.

As for their opponents, the Philadelphia 76ers, well, they couldn’t play any more poorly.

With a sick Joel Embiid, a Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris who have failed to live up to expectations and a lone Jimmy Butler trying to will his team through the series, the Raptors exploded in front of a rabid Scotiabank Arena crowd, obliterating the Sixers by 36 points. The Sixers were waving the white flag far before the final buzzer, but when it was all said and done, the Raptors took a statement Game 5 win by a score of 125-89, pushing the Sixers to the brink of elimination.

1 more. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/9y8mdezkg4

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) May 8, 2019

It seemed like some of Kawhi Leonard’s magic has rubbed off on the rest of his Raptors team – in Serge Ibaka’s case, literarily – as Toronto turned in a complete Game 5 victory.

Kyle Lowry continued to build on his aggressive play in Game 4, turning in a 19 point, six rebound, and five assist night on 5-for-9 shooting, setting the turn early in typical Lowry fashion. A seemingly healthier Pascal Siakam had a big bounce-back performance with a 25 point and eight rebound night, while both Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol provided a steady presence on both ends of the court, doing an incredible job slowing down Embiid and defending the paint.

Kawhi Leonard dunk on Embiid was sick wicked nasty 😤🤬💯#WeTheNorth #PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/b9Yge4dvN9

— Nino (@Nino_416) May 8, 2019

Now, as the series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 6, the Sixers will desperately need their supporting cast to assist Butler, especially after big breakout games from Danny Green and Fred VanVleet on the Raptors side. The Sixers will once again be required to come out hungry in a win-or-go-home elimination game.

A lot will have to go right for the Sixers to push the series to a Game 7 and a lot of it will require a much healthier Embiid. That being said, on Thursday night, two of the NBA’s elite will go head-to-head in what should be a down to the wire matchup.