Sixers roar past Raptors to force game seven

Jimmy Butler #23, Joel Embiid #21, T.J. McConnell #12, and Mike Scott #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrate after a timeout against the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter of Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Wells Fargo Center on May 9, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Raptors 112-101. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Jimmy Butler scored 25 points while Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid had bounce-back games as the Philadelphia 76ers staved off elimination with a 112-101 win over Toronto to force game seven.

Butler also had six rebounds and Embiid finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds for the Sixers who kept their season alive by squaring the best-of-seven NBA Eastern Conference second round series at 3-3.

Simmons rebounded to deliver 21 points after struggling mightily in game five with just seven points and five turnovers.

Franchise cornerstone Embiid, who was listed as probable due to a sore knee, also got back on track after making eight turnovers in game five.

Game seven will be Sunday in Toronto with the winner advancing to face the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks. Game one of the Eastern Conference finals is slated for Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Tobias Harris contributed 16 points, and JJ Redick and Mike Scott had 11 each for the third-seeded Sixers, who haven’t advanced to the Eastern Conference finals since 2001, when they ousted the Bucks in seven games.

Kawhi Leonard led the second-seeded Raptors with 29 points and 12 rebounds. Pascal Siakam added 21 points, and Kyle Lowry had 13.

Leonard has scored at least 20 points in eight straight playoff contests.