They all can’t end on four bounces on the rim but a Raptors-Philadelphia regular-season game in November can have almost as much juice and drama as a playoff game in May.
This time it was Pascal Siakam playing the hero: He made a traditional three-point play that gave the Raptors a lead with 61 seconds to go, had a brilliant steal of a pass with 12 seconds left, and sealed the victory with a dunk at the buzzer as the Raptors squeezed out a 101-96 victory in a delightful affair at the Scotiabank Arena.
On a night when the Raptors held Sixers all-star centre Joel Embiid scoreless — the first time that’s happened in his career — Siakam poured in 25 points and Toronto shut down Philadelphia when it mattered the most.