What's up basketball fans! I am here again @dwin0603 to give you another exciting basketball discussion for another episode of NBA Talk, and today we will have a short recap of the match between the Philadelphia 76ers VS Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of their best of 7 playoff series for the Semi-finals. Let's start!

On Thursday night, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Toronto Raptors, 116-95 in one of the most important Games of their semi-finals series to take home a 2-1 series lead and will be playing at home again in game 4.

Game Recap

The Sixers will have a chance to make it harder for Kawhi Leonard and his Toronto Raptors next game as they play at Philly again in Game 4. If they win that game, it will be the biggest chance for them to escape the second round and go all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals and have the chance to go to the Finals.

Again, Jimmy Butler show up in Game 3 scoring 22 points to help Joel Embiid to win the game. Embiid played a monster game on both ends of the floor dominating the Raptors all game. Philly is getting better throughout their playoff run and the Raptors are looking like a one-man team and that one man is named Kawhi Leonard with a little help from their young forward, Pascal Siakam.

Embiid's condition in the past two games is bad as he only shot 28 percent from the field but here in Game 3, he showed no sign of slowing down and a finished with a performance far from the first two games. Sixers took momentum early and Embiid electrifies the crowd blocking Kawhi Leonard's layup and scoring on the other side moments later. It was the sweetest play of this game which turn the crowd roaring and full of energy. Embiid finished the first half with 18 points and led the Sixers to a 64-53 advantage.

Philly starts a run in the third as Embiid buried a triple that extends Philly's lead to 12 points. "MVP" chants surround the arena and the crowd goes wild after Joel sank both free throws after Pascal Siakam was called for a flagrant foul when he tripped Joel intentionally. Then, the Sixers continue as Butler stole the ball and jam it home. Sixers put the game out of reach early.

My thoughts

I believe the Sixers can take this series. They are the better team. The Raptors' only hope is Kawhi Leonard and if the Sixers survive Leonard, it will be the end for the Raptors. Game 4 is the most important game for the Raptors and I think that if they screw up in game 4, this series is over.

Stats

Joel Embiid - 33 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast
Jimmy Butler - 22 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast
JJ Redick - 15 pts
Kawhi Leonard - 33 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast
Pascal Siakam - 20 pts, 3 reb

That is all for today folks! I would love to hear your thoughts about this article, so drop your comments now and let's have some basketball talk! 😁