Did Sixers’ overtime win in Game 3 show signs of sweep?

The first round of playoff basketball has been nothing short of entertaining. Players from sixteen teams involved in the postseason have committed to the goal of leading their team to an NBA title. Performances from Philadelphia’s iconic pick-and-roll duo have helped Doc Rivers’ team inch closer to advancing to the next level of the Eastern Conference playoff bracket. A win on the road against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday could propel the Sixers to the conference semifinals.

There were three series teams in the NBA post-season that held a two-game advantage over their opponents this post-season. The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers had yet to lose a game in their respective series. When Compared to the other two game series leaders, the Sixers had the highest-seeded opponent.

Sixers jump out to an early series lead

Nick Nurse and the Toronto Raptors entered the postseason as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Scoring contributions from OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam carried the team to a mid-tier seed in the league’s playoff bracket. Before the series began, analysts and fans wondered if the Raptors had enough fight in them to upset Philadelphia as an underdog. Questions concerning James Harden’s recent hamstring injury shined doubt on an easy series victory for Doc Rivers and his staff.

When the Sixers and Raptors met on April 16, the doubt subsided. A 21-point home victory gave Embiid and his supporting cast a 1-0 advantage in their first-round matchup.

Consistency helped the Sixers stay ahead of Toronto. According to NBA.com, Philadelphia outscored their opponent in every quarter of their first post-season battle.

Similar results helped the Sixers conquer the Raptors in the second game of the playoff series. Philadelphia’s 112-97 victory at the Wells Fargo Center showed analysts and sports experts how dominant the 76ers could be when they play behind their All-Sar center. Embiid’s 31-point performance was accompanied by another scoring outbreak from Philadelphia’s rising star. Tyrese Maxey’s twenty-three points helped the Sixers solidify their chances of advancing to the next round.

Sixers win in overtime, show signs of first round sweep

Securing a win in game three was be the mission for James Harden and the Sixers Wednesday night. If Doc Rivers and his team captured a win on the road, their chances of winning the series would increase tremendously. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet were two players to watch interring the game.Both players recorded 20 or more points in the team’s last match up.

Wednesday night’s victory did not come easy for Doc Rivers and company. The Sixers failed to take the lead until the fourth quarter. A 26-point outing from OG Anunoby kept the Raptors in the game until the very end.

When James Harden earned his sixth foul in the last minutes of the fourth quarter, Tobias Harris stepped up for his team. His late-game scoring and defense force the need for an extra quarter.

A 33-point outing from MVP candidate Joel Embiid helped the 76ers capture a win. In the final seconds of overtime, a fade-away three-point shot gave the Sixers a one-point lead.

Defending the three point line will be a point of emphasis for the 76ers coaching staff. In their last meeting, the Sixers gave up thirteen shots from deep- allowing the Raptors to score easy points. When Philadelphia performs well on defense they have more control over their destiny.