The Philadelphia 76ers' ability to adjust has helped them to take a 2-1 series lead over the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. The Sixers played their best game of the playoffs.
The Sixers won Game 3, 116-95, behind Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler. Embiid tied the Raptors' Kawhi Leonard's point total of 33. On the other hand, Butler had a near triple-double with 22 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.
. That's a W.
#PhilaUnite | #HereTheyComehttps://t.co/yNOobTWGO2
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 3, 2019
While Philly won Game 2 on the road, 94-89, the team shot just 36.7 percent from the field. Beating the Raptors in a seven-game playoff series with that kind of shooting isn't a sustainable option.
The Sixers shot much better from the floor in Game 3. They connected on 43 of their 84 shots for a 51.2 percent shooting clip. Embiid shot 50 percent from the field (9 of 18 shooting). He also made three of his four three-point attempts.
Shooting guard J.J. Redick chipped in with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting (two of three from 3-point distance) for Philadelphia.
On the other hand, the Raptors won Game 1, 108-95. Leonard went off for a game-high 45 points. Power forward Pascal Siakam finished with 29 points in a stellar supporting role for Toronto. Nobody else scored in double figures for the Raptors.
Leonard and Siakam carried the load once again for Toronto in Game 3. While they combined for 53 points, their teammates faltered. More specifically, point guard Kyle Lowry and center Marc Gasol shot a combined four of 16 from the field.
Jimmy told Embiid to shoot it. So he did 👌 pic.twitter.com/xmuRkKTclA
— ESPN (@espn) May 3, 2019
For his part, Raptors backup point guard Fred VanFleet scored just one point and missed all seven of his field goal attempts. He failed to convert on a field goal for the second consecutive game.
At this point, it seems Sixers head coach Brett Brown's strategy is clear: Make better shot selections and let Leonard and Siakam beat Philly. The Sixers are doing a great job of containing Lowry, Gasol, and the other Raptors.
Brown's counterpart, Toronto head coach Nick Nurse, must get something out of his other players. If Philly continues to put the clamps on them, the Sixers could end up going to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Game 4 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly on Sunday should be a thrilling encounter, to say the least.