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Gordon AndersonI'm just a small time sports guy looking to get to the big time...
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Air Canada Centre (11), Alan Iverson, Andrea Bargnani (8), Chris Bosh (10), DeMar DeRozen, Hedo Turkoglu (5), Jose Calderon (3), Lou Williams (2), NBA (10), Philadelphia 76ers (2), Toronto Raptors (11)A memo to the opponent: when you play the Raptors, you’re never out of a game.
Toronto blew a 15-point, fourth quarter lead, but rallied to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 104-93 at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night.
Sixers guard Lou Williams held the Midas touch, dropping 14 points in the final frame to help turn an 80-65 deficit into a 93-93 tie with 2:06 to play.
Instead of folding the Raps went on an 11-0 run, highlighted by a four-point play by Jose Calderon with 1:42 remaining. Andrea Bargnani added a three ball and two free throws in the last 40 seconds to fumigate the pesky visitors.
However, this game should have been over long before the cuticle chomping began.
Toronto fell apart in the third quarter, blowing a 23-point lead as Philadelphia narrowed the margin to 78-65 to start the fourth.
Chris Bosh led the Raptors with 23 points while Bargnani had 16. DeMar DeRozen and Sonny Weems had 14 apiece as the Raps topped 100 points for the 17th consecutive game.
Toronto (29-23) is 17-0 when holding the opponent to under 100 points and are 13-1 at home since Dec. 13. Reggie Evans, sidelined since the pre-season with a sprained left foot, made his debut, scoring two points in five minutes. Hedo Turkgolu missed the game with a family illness.
Williams led the Sixers with 26 points while Thaddeus Young had 15.
Philadelphia (20-32) had its five-game winning streak snapped in the last contest before the all-star break for both teams. Alan Iverson missed his fifth straight game to be with his ailing daughter.
Bosh will make his fifth all-star appearance, tying Vince Carter for the most in team history. DeRozen will compete against Clippers’ guard Eric Gordon in the inaugural NBA Dunk-In. The winner will advance to the Sprite Slam Dunk final on Saturday night.