RAPTORS:

Postgame Instant Replay
Toronto 101, Philadelphia 89
Game 6, Eastern Conference Semifinal
May 18 at Air Canada Centre

Changes Save Raptors Season
by Tony Care, raptors.com

Lenny Wilkens had to make changes. He had no choice.

After an embarrassing 33-point loss to Philadelphia in Game 5, the Raptors coach needed to shake up his team. Well, the changes worked as the Raptors defeated the Sixers, 101-89, on Friday night to tie their Eastern Conference semifinal series 3-3 as both teams head back to Philadelphia for Game 7.

Wilkens had a plan for Game 6 and it played out perfectly. He has been heavily criticized for not consistently double-teaming Sixers star Allen Iverson throughout this series. As a result, Iverson has scored more than 50 points twice and has simply been too much for either Alvin Williams or Chris Childs to handle.

Quote of the Game
"I couldn't sleep all night."
Morris Peterson, after being told on Thursday that he would start Game 6.

But on Friday night, Iverson was double-teamed from the start of the game and was forced to pass off to his teammates or take awkward shots. He looked nothing like the prolific scorer that he's been throughout most of this series and only scored 20 points in the game on 6-of-24 shooting from the field. He scored only six points in the first half and in fact, forward Tyrone Hill had twice as many points at the time.

"We had great help defensively tonight (Friday)," said Wilkens. "We did not want him (Iverson) to get the kind of looks he got last game. We have to pressure the ball long enough for help to come over. We did our homework and came out ready to play."

Vince Carter agrees.

"That's how we have to do it," he said. "We understand that no one man in this league can guard him one-on-one. That's the respect he's earned in this league. We have to help Alvin and Chris as much as we can and just make it a team effort."

Wilkens second big change was inserting Morris Peterson into the starting lineup in place of Childs. He notified Peterson after practice on Thursday about the start and the move paid off in a big way. Peterson hasn't started since Game 1 of the New York series in the first round. His energy and shooting was evident from the opening tip.

When he wasn't hitting his shots from the outside, he was making key steals and played terrific defence against Jumaine Jones and Rodney Buford. He made two clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter and was obviously a better matchup against the Sixers' offence.

"Coach (Wilkens) has been telling me all year to take the shot if it's there and that's what I did," said Peterson. "Sometimes when you get wide open you just don't think about it and you just shoot the ball. I'm just glad the shots fell down."

His career playoff-high of 17 points was just the kind of offensive output the Raptors needed. What made Peterson's performance more impressive was the fact that he played sparingly since the first game against New York.

"It's a tough situation for any player to not really play," said Carter. "He did a great job of being ready and focused."

Of course, having your best player perform at a high level doesn't hurt. No matter how the Raptors defended Iverson, Carter needed to have a big game. In Game 5, he started the game slowly and couldn't get many shots to fall. It was important for Carter and the Raptors to get off to a fast start in Game 6. Both of those things happened. His 39 points were a game-high and he did a great job of taking his time with his shot selection.

The Raptors have now won three games in which they've faced elimination. Wilkens' game plan is simple for Game 7. Force someone other than Iverson to beat you and hope Toronto can get off to another fast start with Carter leading the way.

"It's anybody's game," said Wilkens. "I told them that the sky's the limit and it's a fun time for them."

Player of the Game

VINCE CARTER
The Raptors star had a game-high 39 points and hit 4-of-8 shots from three-point range.

Key Stat
Toronto turned the ball over 5 times in the first quarter, but only 3 the rest of the game.

Line of the Game
Morris Peterson: 17 points, 7-11 FG, 3-5 3FG, game-high 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals

Top Highlight
With only two-point lead and momentum in the 76ers favour early in the fourth quarter, Peterson hit two clutch three-pointers to restore an eight-point lead. Philly did not threaten after that.

Hustle Board
Team	RB	ST	BLK	TOT
PHI	49	4	9	62
TOR	38	11	6	55

Leaderboard
	Toronto		Philadelphia
Peterson	Points: Carter - 39 Rebounds: Davis - 13 Assists: Peterson - 7	Mutombo	Points: Iverson - 20 Rebounds: Mutombo - 14 Assists: McKie - 6