USA Today via Reuters
Feb 27, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) and center Joel Embiid (21) greet each other after the New York Knicks call a timeout in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 27, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) and center Joel Embiid (21) greet each other after the New York Knicks call a timeout in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors just took an interesting twist. After taking a 3-0 lead, everyone thought this series was over and it was just a formality. But the Raptors have won 2 games in a row and have now forced a game 6 at home. If they win that game, this series will be set up for an exciting finish with a play for all game 7. And if the Sixers allow that to happen, it will not be a good look on James Harden, who has already been criticized for his performances.
The Raptors force a game 6 after a 103-88 victory over the Sixers. They held the Sixers to 38% shooting and they limited Joel Embiid to 20 points. A bigger concern for the Sixers might be Harden. He finished with 15 points and took only 11 shots. And his co-star Embiid was not happy with him. He said he wanted Harden to be more aggressive and wanted him or the coaching staff to advise him on that.
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NBA Twitter humiliates James Harden as the Sixers go to 6
The NBA fans showed no mercy to James Harden as he continued his poor performances in this series. They even let Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid hear it. Here are the best reactions:
We are ending them next game.
— ً (@HardenFinalsMVP) April 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/Akumgoat/status/1518795508457877504?s=20&t=UNQq8w4CxGgBUYjDAvHDjQ
https://twitter.com/Giannis_Da_Goat/status/1518778997483655171?s=20&t=UNQq8w4CxGgBUYjDAvHDjQ
3 of the worst playoff chokers in 1 team (Doc rivers, Harden, and Embiid) the Sixers and cooked 💀
— PanthersHornetsPage™️ (@PHPistooshort) April 26, 2022
Embiid without 20 free throws per game pic.twitter.com/a0JhvJjy6q
— Attila (@Attilan66) April 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/digitalpoet/status/1518779443732520960?s=20&t=UNQq8w4CxGgBUYjDAvHDjQ
😂😂😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/8g94TqIoNO
— TheHomieJoker🃏 (@TheHomieJoker) April 26, 2022
Here’s why I think the 76ers would blow a 3-0 lead against the raptors and it’s mostly because of Doc Rivers. Doc Rivers has a record of blowing 3-1 leads. In fact he has blown a total of 4 3-1 leads. One with the magic and three with the clippers.
— iiWxyyy- (@IiWxyyy) April 26, 2022
— SportsGrid (@SportsGrid) April 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/DerFranzWagner/status/1518779690017771522?s=20&t=UNQq8w4CxGgBUYjDAvHDjQ
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Raptors take the series back to Toronto
The fighting Raptors are going back home with a chance to pull off the greatest comeback in NBA history. No team has even come back from a 3-0 deficit but the Raptors will have all the confidence in the world after they won back-to-back games. Pascal Siakam had 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Precious Achiuwa scored 17. They were without Fred VanVleet but the Raptors made sure they didn’t feel his absence.
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For Doc Rivers, he cannot afford to lose this series as well. He is the only coach in history to blow three 3-1 leads and he would not want to become the first coach to lose a 3-0 lead. He will hope that Harden and Embiid step up their game and seal it in game 6 in Toronto on Thursday.
WATCH THIS STORY: Timberwolves fans invade in protest as security is forced to intervene in game 4?
