The Philadelphia 76ers showed they're a force to be reckoned with in a dominant Game 3 showing against the Toronto Raptors to take the 2-1 series lead behind a 116-95 victory.
All five starters stepped up to the plate with Joel Embiid leading the way behind a 33-10 double-double.
Toronto had no answers for the power of the Sixers down the stretch as the game simply slipped away from them in the final 12 minutes.
The Sixers will look to take the 3-1 series lead when Game 4 gets underway on Monday.
For the keys of the Sixers' dominant Game 3 win, we have you covered with four takeaways below...
76ers' fourth-quarter run seals it
Heading into the final quarter, the 76ers were up eight and the game and series lead was well and truly up for grabs.
However, the hosts decided to wrap it up with a dominating game-sealing run.
Over the first 6:29 of the fourth quarter, the 76ers outscored the Raptors with a 21-3 run including a 9-1 run when Kawhi Leonard was on the bench for the Raptors.
Raptors possessions to start 4th Quarter with Kawhi on bench:
— Micah Adams (@MicahAdams13) May 3, 2019
- Siakam missed 3
- Lowry missed 20-footer
- Powell missed 19-footer
- Siakam blocked by Embiid
- Siakam blocked by Embiid (again)
In that 21-3 run, the duo of Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid combined to score 18 points.
Kawhi and Pascal lifting the load
Through the opening three games, the Toronto Raptors have been left looking for answers and others to step up to the plate to get the job done.
Kawhi Leonard has been on another level since the playoffs got underway and along with Pascal Siakam, the duo have been lighting it up, but they're playing lone roles.
The numbers through the opening three games of the series make for some stark reading for the rest of the Raptors squad.
Leonard and Siakam have combined to score 183 points on 70-124 FG (56.4%), while the remainder of the roster has only scored 96 points on 39-128 FG (30.4%)
If the Raptors hope to not only level the series up but force their way into the Eastern Conference Finals they're going to need others to step up and help Leonard and Siakam lift the load.
Joel Embiid's dominant game
After a disappointing first couple of games in Toronto by his standards, Joel Embiid came to play in Philadelphia and absolutely dominated Game 3.
In just 28 minutes of action, he registered a double-double of 33 points and 10 rebounds while also recording 5 blocks and 3 assists.
Joel Embiid scored 33 PTS and grabbed 10 REB in 28 minutes-played in the @sixers Game 3 win, becoming the first player since Kevin McHale (1990) to record 30+ PTS and 10+ REB in under 30 minutes-played in a playoff game. @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/edSNiU0OIY
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) May 3, 2019
It's not just the numbers by volume, but it's also the efficiency.
He shot 9-of-18 (50.0%) from the field, 3-of-4 (75.0%) from beyond the arc and 12-of-13 (92.3%) on free throws. He finished with a game-high +31 in the +/- category.
Philly's perimeter defense
In front of their home fans, the Philadelphia 76ers turned up their intensity on the defensive end and the Toronto Raptors really felt the wrath of it during Game 3.
Throughout the regular season, the Raptors ranked 10th in the league for three-pointers attempted per game. But in Philadelphia, they were far too reluctant to let it go.
The Raptors were knocking down a little over 12 threes per game while attempting just under 34 attempts each game. A percentage of 36.6%.
Many of Philly's closeouts have been awesome tonight. Toronto's guys not looking to take as many 3s but Sixers have Embiid waiting at the rim, Raps gonna need to hit a few to open this up #NBACast https://t.co/MZJKpQsTvg pic.twitter.com/8D0j9P4S74
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) May 3, 2019
But in Game 3, the 76ers continually closed out and had the Raptors second guessing their shots which resulted in them finishing 6-23 from deep, 26.1%.