The defending champion Toronto Raptors closed the third quarter on a 20-6 run to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 107-95 for their fifth straight win.
The 76ers went on a 16-5 run to lead 66-56 with 6:05 left in the third quarter. Fred VanVleet’s 28-foot 3-pointer put the Raptors ahead for good with 53 seconds left in the quarter. He made 2 3-pointers during the run, and they led 76-72 after three quarters and by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter.
The 76ers got within 84-82 on Norvel Pelle’s free throw with 7:04 to play, but Norman Powell answered with a driving layup, and the 76ers got no closer than 91-88.
During clutch time, the Raptors outscored the 76ers 5-2.
VanVleet had 22 points and 8 assists, and Marc Gasol added 17 points (9 on 3 3-pointers).
For the 76ers, Tobias Harris scored 22 points (12 on 4 3-pointers).
The Raptors shot 46.5% from the field and 39.4% from 3 to the 76ers’ 38.1% and 39.1%. The 76ers got 8 offensive rebounds, about 5 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. The Raptors outscored the 76ers 52-18 in the paint. The Raptors’ starters were outscored 45-34 in 20 minutes together.