PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers played host to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night looking to play out the string of a disappointing 2024-25 season. The Sixers were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday so the focus now is on playing out the string and just getting to the finish line.
On the flip side, the Sixers were looking to avoid getting swept in the 4-game season series by the Raptors so a win wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. However, the Raptors led by double-digits for most of the night and would go on to win it 127-109. The losing streak for Philadelphia is now at eight.
Lonnie Walker IV had 23 points and seven assists for Philadelphia while Ricky Council IV added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Jared Butler added 15 points and six assists, Adem Bona had 14 and eight rebounds, and Justin Edwards added 12 and seven rebounds. Jalen Hood-Schifino added 18 points and five assists off the bench.
Here are the player grades following the loss:
Jared Butler: B-minus
This was a tough night for Butler. He was unable to get into much of a groove on the offensive end as he missed some looks he normally would convert on—especially, recently. He does deserve credit for being able to get his teammates involved and make sure they got into the game some. He does deserve credit for getting it going with his own offense as the game wore on, but it wasn’t his best night.
Justin Edwards: B-minus
The Raptors paid a lot of defensive attention toward Edwards, but the rookie was able to find himself some open looks in order to make an impact. He had a couple of tough finishes off the dribble and was able to get to a few spots in the mid-range to convert on some open looks at the basket. He did have a few defensive miscues, but that cold be attributed to a bothersome left ankle issue. He was helpful in the rebounding department for Philadelphia.
Lonnie Walker IV: B-plus
This was a solid night for Walker. The goal for him in these final games is to show off his abilities and show that he belongs in this league. He showed that early on when he drove past a slew of Toronto defenders who tried to stay in front of him. He did a good job in this one of being able to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. He had a few buckets in isolation which shows off his ability to take guys off the dribble and finish tough looks. He did some good things with his passing as well to get his teammates involved.
Ricky Council IV: B-plus
When the Sixers get an aggressive Council, then they are a happy group. He didn’t try to do too much out there to start his night as he made quicker decisions with the basketball. He knocked down a catch-and-shoot triple early and then was able to knife his way into the paint and finish some tough looks at the basket. When the Sixers are getting an aggressive Council who is putting his head down and getting to the rim, then they are in good shape. He did a lot of that in this one against a Raptors team that isn’t exactly a defensive juggernaut.
Adem Bona: B-plus
One thing is for sure, Bona is going to play his behind off regardless of what the situation is. The rookie brought a ton of energy to this one and was helpful on the glass along with being a presence in the paint on the offensive end. The Raptors don’t feature a lot of size and Bona did a good job of using his athleticism and basketball IQ to be able to get into ...
