PHILADELPHIA (AP) 鈥� Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet hit back-to-back 3-pointers over the final 1:10 to lift the Toronto Raptors past the Philadelphia 76ers, 115-109 on Thursday night.
VanVleet hit six 3s and scored 32 points, and Trent added 20 to help the Raptors knock off the undermanned Sixers. The Raptors lost to Boston on the front end of a back-to-back but the late 3s rallied them to a nice road victory.
Joel Embiid, Isaiah Joe, and Matisse Thybulle are still in the NBA鈥檚 health and safety protocols and sat out again. Seth Curry did return from a foot injury and Tobias Harris scored 19 points in his return from a six-game absence after testing positive for COVID-19.
鈥淲e just need bodies. He鈥檚 a warm body. The fact that he鈥檚 one of our better players helps,鈥� coach Doc Rivers said.
The Sixers need more reinforcements and have lost three straight games. Tyrese Maxey did score 33 points for the Sixers.
Andre Drummond had put the Sixers ahead 109-107 with 1:44 left and then followed with a blocked shot on the next possession that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Trent, though, hit the 3 with 1:10 left that put the Raptors ahead.
The Raptors led most of the fourth quarter until the Sixers went on a late run. Shake Milton hit a 3 and his baseline drive cut it to 92-89 before Harris scored to bring the Sixers within one. VanVleet and Svi Mykhailiuk, though, each buried 3-pointers that stretched the lead and OG Anunoby dunked off a turnover.
Anunoby then hit a 3, one of 14 for the Raptors.
TIP-INS
Raptors: Anunoby also scored 20 points. ... Trailed 57-52 at halftime.
76ers: Ben Simmons attended Thursday鈥檚 film session, though there are still no immediate plans for the guard to return to play. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been around more. He鈥檚 doing all the things that I know of that he鈥檚 supposed to do,鈥� Rivers said. Rivers continues to deflect questions about Simmons, who officially is out with back and mental health issues. Rivers said Simmons鈥� status is 鈥渢he last thing on my mind right now.鈥� Simmons鈥� agent Rich Paul told The Athletic: 鈥淭his is no longer about a trade. This is about finding a place where we can help Ben get back to his mental strength and get back on the floor. I want him on the floor playing the game that he loves. I want Ben on the floor. Whether that鈥檚 in a 76ers uniform or any other uniform, that鈥檚 not up to me, but I want him in a state where he can resume play.鈥� Simmons, a three-time All-Star, requested a trade in the offseason and has a frosty relationship with the Sixers.
WALK ON
The yearly open tryout held by the NBA G League teams actually yielded a player this season for the Delaware Blue Coats. Brian Cameron, a standout shooter at Division III Wesley College, went from Delaware native to deep reserve on the bench.
He was inactive for the opener but was expected to make the roster at Maine.
Not bad for a guard who pretty much sat out a year because of the pandemic. He impressed in the open workout that included former DI players and was invited to training camp. He signed a one-year deal with the Blue Coats.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping I can find my way in eventually,鈥� he said. 鈥淣othing鈥檚 given. Everything鈥檚 earned. That鈥檚 how I鈥檝e been my whole life coming from small schools here and there. I didn鈥檛 have the top recruits with me, or anything. I just have to prove what I can bring with the team.鈥�
Blue Coats general manager Prosper Karangwa said Cameron鈥檚 shooting 鈥� he shot at least 45% from 3 his first three college seasons 鈥� made him attractive to the team.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 been a day where Brian hasn鈥檛 looked like he didn鈥檛 belong,鈥� Karangwa said. 鈥淗opefully there comes an opportunity for him to get some minutes at some point.鈥�
UP NEXT
Raptors: Return home Saturday to play Detroit.
76ers: Open a six-game road trip Saturday in Indiana.
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Dan Gelston, The Associated Press
