Jimmy Butler III had 30 points (12 in the fourth quarter) and 10 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 94-89 to even the Eastern Conference semifinals 1-1.
The 76ers took control with a 19-7 run in the first quarter and led by as many as 19.
The Raptors got within 90-89 on Pascal Siakam’s putback with 46 seconds to play, but Joel Embiid answered with a hook shot, and the Raptors got no closer.
Tobias Harris’ 2 free throws with 3.8 seconds left made it 94-89 and put it away.
During clutch time, the 76ers outscored the Raptors 11-2. Butler scored 7 of the 76ers’ 11 on 2 for 2 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line. In the fourth quarter, Siakam had 3 of his 4 steals, 1 of them during an 8-0 Raptors run, and the Raptors scored 2 points off them.
For the Raptors, Kawhi Leonard had 35 points (7 during a 10-0 run across the second and third quarters) and 6 assists, and Siakam added 21 points and 4 steals. Kyle Lowry scored 20 points. The Raptors had 3 20-point scorers.
The 76ers went 24 for 26 at the line to the Raptors’ 13 for 15. The Raptors outscored the 76ers 24-6 off turnovers. The Raptors’ starters outscored the 76ers 64-52 in 30 minutes together.