Philadelphia 76ers: 3 takeaways from Game 7 heartbreaker vs. Raptors

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 12: Jimmy Butler #23 and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk at center court against the Toronto Raptors during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Just a few random bounces sent the Philadelphia 76ers home for the 2019 NBA Playoffs at the buzzer with a 92-90 loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 7.

They say the game of basketball is one of runs, which was no more apparent than in this Game 7 slugfest between the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors. Neither team led by more than nine points in a game that included seven ties and 10 lead changes.

Both squads appeared nervous early on and played like it throughout the first quarter. Toronto shot just 5-of-24 from the field in those 12 minutes, while the Sixers weren’t much better at 5-of-19. The two teams combined to hit only one of their 16 looks from downtown and coughed up eight turnovers in the process.

After so much back and forth throughout, Philly managed to tie the game up on a fast break layup by Jimmy Butler with 4.2 seconds remaining. In what may go down as one of the most improbable game-winners in NBA history, Kawhi Leonard heaved a last-second prayer from the right corner that bounced every which way and in, gifting the Raptors a 92-90 victory and a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Despite all five starters scoring in double-figures, nobody on Philadelphia particularly stood out in this must-win contest. Joel Embiid led the team with 21 points along with 11 rebounds, but he shot just 6-of-18 from the field in a whopping 45 minutes of action.

Leonard did everything he could to will Toronto to victory, hoisting 39 shots — and hitting 16 of them — on his way to a game-high 41 points. Serge Ibaka proved huge off the bench, finishing with 17 points of his own.

The 76ers now head into an offseason full of questions surrounding both their roster and possibly even their head coach. It was a game they had to have. Yet aside from Kawhi’s improbable buzzer-beater, there was plenty Philly could’ve done throughout to better position itself to win this game right at its fingertips.