Everything the Raptors aspired to be, everything you might have dreamed they could be, was showcased in a 48-minute performance that was at times hard-nosed, often creative and always entertaining.

The Raptors delivered an intense team-wide defence that limited Sixers star Allen Iverson to two second-half points and 18 overall.

The Raptors raced to an 11-0 game-opening run in which Hakeem Olajuwon blocked shots from Dikembe Mutombo and Derrick Coleman. The Sixers did not get a shot at the basket until they were down 11-0.

Start with defence and every element falls into place. The Raptors turned up their defensive play in the second half of a win Friday in Boston over the Celtics and carried that same commitment into yesterday's game.