PHILADELPHIA–Toronto Raptors star forward Pascal Siakam was having a huge night on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Siakam had 38 points through regulation and he made a huge shot late to tie the game at 99 in order to force overtime.
The Sixers then threw PJ Tucker on Siakam and the Toronto star was not able to do much in overtime. He shot 0-for-3 and he missed the potential game-tying shot as Philadelphia walked away with a 104-101 win over the Raptors.
Tucker was getting into Siakam and bothering him in the extra session in order to help Philadelphia win this game. A lot of people want to focus on what Tucker isn’t on the offensive end, but he has been one helluva defender for the Sixers during his first season with the team.
“Siakam is a hell of a player, but Tuck’s a hell of a defender,” said coach Doc Rivers. “We fouled almost too quick on the one with the foul to give, but you had no choice because he was going to try to drive and get a quick one so I thought it was a good foul for them. It took them out on what they wanted to run. An iso-3? That’s a tough shot. If he makes that, you live with that.”
Tucker was brought in here for games like this one. When an opposing player gets on a hot streak, then the Sixers can throw him on that guy and slow him down. In this case, it was Siakam.
“He was great,” Embiid said of Tucker. “He (Siakam) made a bunch of tough shots tonight. 3’s, a bunch of push-offs, and step-backs, he made a bunch of tough shots tonight, but down the stretch, PJ just being aggressive and got giving him any space. He was magical.”
The Sixers will now prepare for the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
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