TORONTO: The last time Toronto and Philadelphia played was on Feb. 5, a night where the Raptors went into the 76ers’ home building and had absolutely no trouble on the way to an easy win. Later that night, the 76ers struck a deal to get Tobias Harris. And about a day later, the Raptors went out and got Marc Gasol.
The roster-remodeling that the 76ers and Raptors were involved in at the trade deadline was done with postseason goals in mind — so it seems fitting that the teams are about to square off for a berth in the Eastern Conference finals.
The second round of the NBA playoffs starts on Saturday when Philadelphia goes to Toronto for Game 1.
“Both have had a lot of changes throughout the year,” Toronto forward Pascal Siakam said. “It will definitely feel different. It kind of feels like the first time we’re meeting them.”
Toronto has won 21 of the last 24 meetings between the teams and went 3-1 against the 76ers this season, numbers that both sides agree are largely irrelevant.
“We’ve never played them with the team we have,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “The context needs to be somewhat considered.”
That goes back to what happened almost immediately following the last Raptors-76ers matchup.
Toronto’s 119-107, wasn’t-as-close-as-that-looks victory hadn’t been in the books for an hour before news broke that the 76ers were sending three players and four draft picks to the Los Angeles Clippers for Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott. It’s already paid off for Philly in many ways; Marjanovic has been a solid backup for Joel Embiid and Scott made perhaps the biggest shot of the 76ers’ first-round win over Brooklyn.
Scott is now ailing and seems likely to miss Game 1, if not more, with a heel injury. The speed the Raptors play with may affect how Philly plans to use Marjanovic in this series. But Harris fits in perfectly with the 76ers’ needs on both ends — just as Gasol, who will be primarily tasked with slowing Embiid, has done since joining the Raptors.
“Everybody loaded up,” Brown said. “They really loaded up. It was an arms race for the Eastern Conference championship.”
Embiid averaged 26.3 points against the Raptors and Ben Simmons shot 63 percent in the four games, but was also forced into 6.3 turnovers per game in the season series. For Toronto, Kyle Lowry averaged 16.8 points, while Siakam averaged 16.3 on 52% shooting. And Kawhi Leonard averaged 30.3 points in three meetings against Philadelphia — with the game he sat out in the series being the only one where the 76ers prevailed.
Raptors and 76ers made changes this season, and now face off
Raptors and 76ers made changes this season, and now face off
- Scott is now ailing and seems likely to miss Game 1, if not more, with a heel injury
Turkiye take on Dutch in politically charged Euros quarter-final, England face Swiss
- In the other quarter-final England aim to move a step closer to ending a 58-year wait to win a major tournament by beating Switzerland
BERLIN: Turkiye face the Netherlands in a Euro 2024 quarter-final on Saturday whose lead-up has been dominated by a diplomatic row between the Turks and Germany.
In the other quarter-final England aim to move a step closer to ending a 58-year wait to win a major tournament by beating Switzerland.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the match at Berlin’s Olympiastadion amidst a diplomatic row between his country and host nation Germany over a two-match ban handed to Turkiye defender Merih Demiral.
The center-back, who scored both Turkiye’s goals in a 2-1 win over Austria in the last 16 on Tuesday, has been suspended by UEFA for celebrating with a gesture associated with Turkish right-wing extremist group Grey Wolves.
UEFA said in a statement it was banning Demiral “for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations of a non-sporting nature and for bringing the sport of football into disrepute.”
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser warned “the symbols of Turkish right-wing extremists have no place in our stadiums.”
Turkiye then summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday over politicians’ reactions to Demiral’s celebration.
Turkiye’s Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak claimed the ban “has no legal basis and that we consider it to be purely political.”
Erdogan himself has said Demiral was just “showing his excitement” and several ministers and the spokesman of his ruling AKP party have condemned Faeser’s reaction.
Turkiye will be roared on by tens of thousands of fans who have turned all of their matches, in an unexpected run to the last eight, into a mass of red and white in stadiums around the country.
Germany is home to nearly three million people with Turkish roots.
Vincenzo Montella’s men will try to ride that support to reach the semifinals of a European Championship for just the second time.
The Dutch are the favorites to make the last four for the first time since Euro 2004.
Ronald Koeman’s side disappointed in the group stage as they only qualified thanks to being one of the best third-placed teams.
But they hit their stride in the last 16 with a 3-0 win over Romania and have the joint top goalscorer in the tournament in Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo.
The winner of the clash in Berlin will face either England or Switzerland in Wednesday’s semifinal in Dortmund.
England boss Gareth Southgate rounded on suggestions the Three Lions had been handed an easier path to the final as “entitlement” from the media in his homeland.
Despite reaching the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive major tournament under Southgate, England have so far failed to live up to their hype as one of the favorites for the competition in a string of poor performances.
They needed a moment of Jude Bellingham brilliance in the dying seconds to sneak past Slovakia after extra-time in the last 16 and face a step up in class against the Swiss in Dusseldorf.
Bellingham has been cleared to play after the Real Madrid midfielder received just a 30,000 euro ($32,477) fine and one-match suspended ban for mimicking a crotch grab after scoring against Slovakia.
Switzerland dumped out holders Italy 2-0 in the previous round and also held Germany 1-1 in the group stages.
Spain will face France in Tuesday’s semifinal in Munich after two dramatic quarter-finals on Friday.
The hosts suffered a heartbreaking defeat as Mikel Merino’s header in the final minute of extra-time handed Spain a 2-1 win over Germany.
France beat Portugal on penalties after a 0-0 draw that could bring the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s illustrious international career.
Saudi national team beats UAE to win Arab Diar Championship
- The Saudi team qualified for the final match after beating their Syrian counterpart 2-0
TAIF, Saudi Arabia: The Saudi national team won the Arab Diar Championship for West Asian U-19 teams, after defeating UAE 1-0 at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Taif Governorate on Friday night.
The team qualified for the final match after beating their Syrian counterpart 2-0, state news agency SPA reported.
Talal Haji scored the winning goal in the 43rd minute of the first half, bringing victory and gold medals to the team.
The UAE came in second and was awarded silver medals.
Canada stun Venezuela on penalties to reach Copa America semifinals
- Canada triumphed in the shootout to set up a last-four meeting with world champions Argentina
- Both teams failed to score from the spot twice in the shoot-out, leaving it at 3-3 after five penalties each
ARLINGTON, Texas: Canada reached the semifinals of the Copa America on Friday after beating Venezuela 4-3 on penalties after the 90-minute game finished 1-1.
Jacob Shaffelburg fired Canada into the lead in the 13th minute but Salomon Rondon equalized in the 64th, before Canada triumphed in the shootout to set up a last-four meeting with world champions Argentina.
The Canadians, under American coach Jesse Marsch, who only took over the team in mid-May, are playing in the Copa America for the first time and produced a relentless display of pressing in what was a frantic game.
Both teams failed to score from the spot twice in the shoot-out, leaving it at 3-3 after five penalties each and sending the contest into sudden death.
Canada keeper Max Crepeau, who had made a major error for Venezuela’s equalizer, made amends as he saved Wilker Angel’s kick.
That left Ismael Kone with the chance to win the game. He converted with an ice-cool penalty to set off the celebrations in front of a crowd of 51,080 mostly Venezuela supporting fans.
Canada played Argentina in the opening game of the group stage, losing 2-0 to the defending champions and will start as huge underdogs again in the semifinal.
But after a performance of remarkable energy and determination against a Venezuela team that won all three of their group stage games, Marsch will believe his team could pull off another upset and reach the final in Miami on July 14.
Canada roared out of the blocks, giving Venezuela no time on the ball and getting forward in numbers in the early stages.
“Vinotinto” keeper Rafael Romo had to race out of his area to stop Cyle Larin as he raced on to a ball over the top, but there was nothing he could do minutes later when the Canadians took the lead.
Jonathan David bustled in from the right and winger Shaffelburg arrived right on time to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
Shaffelburg, a speedy left-winger who plays in Major League Soccer for Nashville, then forced Romo into a diving save and then delivered a low cross which David was unable to finish.
Canada were going for the jugular and Richie Laryea zipped a ball across the face of the box but the stretching David was unable to reach it.
Larin wasted a big chance just after the interval when he found the ball in space in the box but leaned back and fired his shot well over the bar.
Marsch’s high-energy tactics were starting to take a toll on his players and as they tired Venezuela grew into the game.
Jose Martinez should have done better when a poor clearance landed at his feet in the box but he stabbed his shot wide.
But then a long ball forward was won by Rondon, who spotted Crepeau far off his line and from 35-yards out the veteran striker produced a perfect lob to beat the stranded keeper and make it 1-1.
There were late chances for Canada to win the game in regulation time, but neither Liam Millar nor Tani Oluwaseyi, both on as substitutes could provide a composed finish.
With no extra-time in Copa America, it was straight to penalties and after Rondon and David both converted, Yangel Herrera hit the post for Venezuela.
Millar then put his effort over the bar and after Tomas Rincon scored for Venezuela, Moise Bombito levelled for Canada.
But Jefferson Savarino hit the post and Canada’s Stephen Eustaquio saw his soft effort saved by Romo before both teams scored to make it 3-3.
Then in sudden death, Crepeau dived to deny Angel leaving Kone with the pressure shot to win which he handled with aplomb.
“Everybody needs to realize the respect this country deserves and these footballers deserve,” Crepeau told Fox Sports.
“Everybody says ‘these Canadians’, well these Canadians are in the semifinals of Copa America.”
Aaron Rai and C.T. Pan share John Deere Classic lead
- Pan holed a 100-foot chip for eagle on the reachable par-4 14th and also kept bogeys off his card for a 63
- Pan and Rai were at 14-under 128
SILVIS: Aaron Rai of England went from a close call last week in Detroit to another chance at his first PGA Tour victory, playing another bogey-free round of 8-under 63 on Friday to share the lead with C.T. Pan going into the weekend at the John Deere Classic.
Still in the mix is Hayden Springer, who began the tournament with a 59. Springer had 12 birdies and two eagles in his first 29 holes before he began to sputter, missing a 3-foot par putt and taking a double bogey late in his round as light rain fell at the TPC Deere Run.
He had to settle for a 71 and and was among six players within two shots of the lead.
“It wasn’t too bad,” Springer said. “It was a little windier today, probably played a little tougher. I kind of hit some bumps on the back nine, but more just mental errors and not making those short putts than anything else.”
Pan holed a 100-foot chip for eagle on the reachable par-4 14th and also kept bogeys off his card for a 63.
Pan and Rai were at 14-under 128.
Rai shared the 54-hole lead in the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week and wound up one shot behind Cam Davis.
“Been playing well tee-to-green for large parts of this season. That’s kind of continued over the last few weeks,” Rai said. “And then a couple of weeks ago I spent quite a while on the green. My dad gave me a couple tips. Started working with John Graham last week, as well, a putting coach who is based out here.
“Putting all that together has definitely translated to on the course.”
Rai wasn’t the only player using some momentum from last week. Florida State sophomore Luke Clanton extended his amazing summer run with a 67 that left him at 12-under 130.
He drove the green on the 348-yard 14th hole to 15 feet for eagle. Perhaps more impressive was the way he rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 sixth toward the end of his round with two straight birdies.
“We hadn’t really made a mistake all week, and made one tiny mistake and made double,” Clanton said. “I knew it was all right. Going to make birdie-birdie no matter that. I knew after I got that double, I said to myself, ‘We ain’t finishing at 10 under. We’re going to finish at 12.’”
He hit his tee shot on the 202-yard seventh hole to just inside 10 feet for birdie, and then made another 10-foot birdie putt on the par-4 eighth to make good on his belief.
Harry Hall (66) was at 13 under, while joining Springer and Clanton at 12 under were Eric Cole (68), Davis Thompson (67) and Denny McCarthy (66).
Another shot back was a player fresh out of college — Michael Thorbjornsen, the Massachusetts native who played at Stanford and finished No. 1 in the PGA Tour University ranking to get a full PGA Tour card for the rest of this year and all of 2025.
Thorbjornsen started his round with four straight birdies and wound up with a 64.
Two-time Deere winner Jordan Spieth at least made it to the weekend. Playing the tournament for the first time since he won it nine years ago, Spieth hit a pair of wild shots that led to bogey and put him outside the cut line until he rallied with a pair of birdies.
He missed a 4-foot birdie chance on his final hole and had to settle for a 67, making the cut with a shot to spare. But he was still eight shots behind and not particularly optimistic, mainly because of a 69 on Thursday morning in the easiest conditions.
“We had yesterday morning with no wind and a chance — ball in hand — to really take advantage,” Spieth said. “I had 18 holes of a couple under yesterday, and unless you’re absolutely perfect from there, there is not much of a chance of winning. That doesn’t mean you don’t go out and try and shoot 10 under the next day.”
New T20 era for world champion India as it visits Zimbabwe for five-match series
- Shubman Gill will lead India for the first time, with senior players rested after T20 World Cup
- The 24-year-old batter returns to India’s T20 eleven along with middle order batter Rinku Singh
HARARE: World champion India will usher in a new era as it takes on Zimbabwe in a five-match Twenty20 series starting Saturday at the Harare Sports Club.
Shubman Gill will lead India for the first time, with senior players rested in the aftermath of joyous celebrations of winning the T20 World Cup.
The 24-year-old batter, who led the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League, returns to India’s T20 eleven along with middle order bat Rinku Singh. The duo had missed out on the World Cup, but traveled to the West Indies and United States as reserve players.
“I learnt a lot when I captained in the IPL for the first time. It allowed me to learn about myself as a player and as a leader,” Gill said. “Captaincy is about mental challenges and how you prepare yourself as well as your teammates, because everyone has the desired skill set. It is about giving them enough confidence to deliver on the field.”
Star batting duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements from international T20 after lifting the World Cup trophy in Barbados on June 29.
Ravindra Jadeja also announced his international retirement from the format, with world’s No. 1 all-rounder Hardik Pandya, No. 1 batter Suryakumar Yadav and No. 1 fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah all gaining a well-earned rest.
Amid retirements and rested senior players, it is a huge opportunity for youngsters who will be eager to make the step-up to international cricket.
India’s young squad consists of many budding superstars who have had an enriching experience in the IPL, including Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag and Tushar Deshpande.
Sharma lit up the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 484 runs in 16 matches at strike-rate 204.22, while Parag scored 573 runs for Rajasthan Royals. Both are expected to start the series and gain their T20 debuts.
Among others expected to gain valuable T20 opportunities are prolific batter Ruturaj Gaikwad (skipper of Chennai Super Kings) as also spin all-rounder Washington Sundar and medium pacer Tushar Deshpande, who picked up 38 IPL wickets for Chennai in the past two seasons.
Sharma is set to open the innings with Gill in the first T20, with Gaikwad slotting in at number three.
“This is a very inexperienced side as compared to the one that won the T20 World Cup,” Gill said. “Our aim is to give opportunities to as many players as possible — some have little international experience, while others are yet to make their debuts.
“We know Zimbabwe will come hard at us, like with other teams in this format,” he added.
Keeper-batter Sanju Samson and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal were the only ones from the World Cup squad to be picked for this series. Batting all-rounder Shivam Dube was later included in place of 21-year-old all-rounder Nitish Reddy as the latter picked up an injury.
The trio, however, will not be available for the first two matches as the Indian team left Barbados late owing to a hurricane and only arrived in India on Thursday, sparking huge celebrations across the country. Instead, batters Sai Sudharsan and Jitesh Sharma as well as pacer Harshit Rana were added to India’s squad for the first two T20s.
Zimbabwe announced a 17-man squad for the series led by Sikandar Raza. Senior players Craig Ervine and Sean Williams were not considered for selection, while 25-year-old Antum Naqvi is included subject to him gaining Zimbabwe citizenship.
This is Zimbabwe’s third high-profile T20 series in 2024 having played against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh earlier.
India and Zimbabwe last faced each other in the 2022 T20 World Cup at Melbourne — the Men in Blue won by 71 runs.
Their previous bilateral engagement was in 2016 when India had toured for a three-match series. Overall, the two sides have played eight T20s, with India winning six matches.
Zimbabwe beat India 2-0 at home in their maiden T20 engagement back in 2010.
