The Toronto Raptors started fast and never looked back on Wednesday, and the visiting Philadelphia 76ers will look for an answer to that in the rematch on Friday night.
Led by 15 points from Pascal Siakam, the Raptors had a 35-27 advantage after the first quarter on Wednesday in their 119-109 victory over the 76ers.
Siakam finished with 20 points and matched his career best with 13 assists.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 16 of his 27 points in the third quarter for the Raptors. All five starters had double figures in scoring, including Scottie Barnes, who returned from missing one game with a sprained ankle to score 16 points and grab 10 rebounds.
The Raptors played an unselfish game and had a season-best 32 assists.
The Raptors shot 54.8 percent — including 43.2 percent on 3-pointers — from the field. The 76ers shot 50.6 percent from the field, including 44.4 percent on 3-pointers.
The 76ers have lost four of their first five games.
After taking the opener of a three-game homestand on Wednesday, the Raptors are 3-2 to start the season and have won two straight.
When Siakam and Christian Koloko of the Raptors and Embiid shared the floor on Wednesday, it was the first time that three players from Cameroon were on an NBA court in a game together.
Also, Raptors forward Otto Porter Jr. is taking a leave from the team due to personal reasons, Nurse announced Thursday. Porter has yet to play for the Raptors since signing a two-year, $12.3 million contract on July 6. He is nursing a lingering hamstring injury.
