Leonard scores 39, Raptors beat 76ers 101-96 to tie series

Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 1:01 left, to help the Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 101-96 on Sunday and even the Eastern Conference semifinal series at 2-2.

Marc Gasol scored 16, Kyle Lowry had 14 and the Raptors rebounded after consecutive losses to reclaim home-court advantage.

Game 5 is Tuesday night in Toronto.

Philadelphia 76ers' Jimmy Butler, left, goes up to shoot against Toronto Raptors' Kawhi Leonard, right, during the first half of Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)

Jimmy Butler scored 29 and JJ Redick had 19 for Philadelphia. The 76ers are trying to reach the conference finals for the first time since Allen Iverson led them to the NBA Finals in 2001.

Toronto, which earned the No. 2 seed after winning 58 games, has been bounced out in the semis two straight seasons.

Joel Embiid struggled after scoring 33 points in Philadelphia's 21-point victory in Game 3, The All-Star center only had 11.

Toronto Raptors' Danny Green, left, reacts as he takes the foul from Philadelphia 76ers' Jimmy Butler, right, during the first half of Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)

Butler banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the circle as the shot clock expired after briefly losing the ball to give the Sixers an 84-81 lead in the fourth. But Gasol answered with a 3 to tie it and the Raptors went up 89-85 on Leonard's jumper. Butler and Leonard traded a pair of free throws before Redick hit a 3 to cut it to 91-90 with 2:07 left.

Following a turnover, Embiid missed a layup. Leonard then nailed a step-back 3 to put Toronto up 94-90. Danny Green made four free throws in the final minute to ice it.

Playing before a raucous crowd, the Sixers failed to take control of the series and now must win at least one more game on the road to advance.

Toronto Raptors' Kawhi Leonard, center, goes up for the shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons, top, during the first half of Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP PhotoChris Szagola)

Serge Ibaka made the defensive play of the game in the second quarter, racing back down the floor to reject Tobias Harris during Philadelphia's 3-on-1 fast break. But the Raptors missed a shot on the opposite end and Embiid answered with an emphatic dunk.

Later in the quarter, Embiid blocked Ibaka and found Ben Simmons for a dunk. Embiid blocked Ibaka again 35 seconds later and Butler hit an 11-footer. Butler's 3-pointer with a second left in the second quarter got the Sixers within 47-45 at halftime.

Leonard scored six points during a 13-0 run in the first quarter to help the Raptors take a 22-11 lead. But the Sixers outscored Toronto 10-2 to cut the deficit to 24-21 after one.

SIGHTINGS

Former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and All-Star outfielder Shane Victorino of the 2008 World Series championship team rang the ceremonial Liberty Bell to start the game. ... Sixers Hall of Famer "Dr. J" Julius Erving sat in a suite. ... Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce and Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz sat courtside and Hall of Famer Terrell Owens received the loudest ovation in the "circle of stars."

TIP-INS

Raptors: Only lost three straight games once during the regular season after a 12-1 start. ... Pascal Siakam played 28 minutes after being doubtful because of a right calf injury. He started 0 for 8 before making his first basket with 4:15 left in the third quarter. He finished 2 for 10. ... Leonard had 14 rebounds.

76ers: Embiid only took four shots in the first 32 minutes. He missed three straight free throws at one point in the fourth quarter. ... Harris had 16 points but shot 7 for 23, including 2 for 13 from beyond the arc.

UP NEXT

Game 5 is Tuesday in Toronto.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)