The Toronto Raptors defeated the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night, in part because Chris Bouchers’ chin was in the right place at the right time.
Clinging to a 90-88 lead with seven seconds to go, Boucher stepped in to block a potential game-tying James Harden drive. As Harden prepared to release a running lefty layup, he brought his right elbow up — right into Boucher’s kisser.
The shot came up short, Boucher sprawled to the court — and the officials called Harden for the offensive foul. After review the refs upgraded it to a flagrant-1, and the Raptors sealed the game at the free throw line, eventually winning 93-88.