Embiid Powers 76ers Past Raptors as Philly Regains Its Edge

When Joel Embiid is healthy, the Philadelphia 76ers look like a different team, and Toronto was reminded of that reality on Monday night. One day after dropping a one-point overtime decision to the Raptors, the Sixers returned to Scotiabank Arena and responded with a 115–102 victory that felt more authoritative than the score suggested.

The moment that seemed to crystallize the night came midway through the second quarter. Embiid attacked the rim with purpose, finishing with a thunderous dunk that electrified Philadelphia’s bench. The celebration that followed, punctuated by an animated Kyle Lowry reaction from the sideline, underscored how engaged the group has become even beyond the stat sheet.

Lowry, a former Raptors champion who did not see the floor, offered a reminder of his flair and personality, drawing smiles across the bench. It was a small scene, but it reflected a larger truth: this Sixers team is starting to enjoy itself again.

More importantly, it is starting to win. The victory pushed Philadelphia to six wins in its last eight games, a quiet surge after an uneven opening to the season.

1. A Force in the Paint

Embiid finished with 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals, a line that barely captured his control over the game. His blend of size and touch forced Toronto into constant rotations, opening space for Philadelphia’s shooters and cutters. There were blemishes—seven turnovers, the most of any player—but even those missteps did little to blunt his overall impact. When Embiid established position, the Raptors had few answers beyond fouling or collapsing the lane. The second-quarter dunk was the visual highlight, but the substance came in quieter moments: drawing double-teams, swinging the ball to open shooters, and dictating pace when the Raptors threatened to rally. It was the kind of all-around night that reminds the league how thin the line is between Philadelphia looking ordinary and Philadelphia looking formidable.

2. Firepower From the Backcourt

While Embiid anchored the interior, Tyrese Maxey supplied the perimeter fireworks. The guard poured in 33 points, connecting on 6-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc and repeatedly punishing Toronto for leaving him even a step of daylight. Paul George and rookie VJ Edgecombe added balance, combining for 30 points, six rebounds, and 14 assists. Their contributions prevented the offense from stalling whenever Embiid rested or Maxey cooled. The variety of scoring threats has been what Philadelphia envisioned when assembling this roster. On this night, the Sixers generated points from the post, the perimeter, and in transition, never allowing Toronto to settle into a single defensive scheme. For a team that once relied too heavily on individual brilliance, the distribution of responsibility felt like progress.

3. Health Finally on Their Side

The Sixers’ strong showing came after a rocky start to the season. Embiid, Maxey, George, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Jared McCain all missed time, forcing head coach Nick Nurse to shuffle lineups and chase continuity. That instability stalled any early rhythm. Philadelphia often looked like a collection of parts rather than a unified whole, struggling to maintain consistency from game to game. Now, with the core back together, the pieces are aligning. The rotations are steadier, the ball is moving, and even the bench—symbolized by Lowry’s animated sideline presence—appears fully invested. It may still be early, but the signs point toward a team rediscovering its identity at the right moment in the season.