Anxiously seeking their first win of the season, the Sixers (0-7) have a tough test tonight against the first-place Raptors (5-3). To make things even tougher, Nerlens Noel will not play because of a lingering wrist injury and rookie Richaun Holmes strained his hamstring in warmups and is doubtful for the game. Robert Covington also remains sidelined.
The Sixers fell to the Bulls on Monday night in Philadelphia, 111-88, despite Jahlil Okafor posting his first career double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds. He started off just 2-for-10 from the floor, but finished 9-for-25. Philadelphia has lost 17 in a row dating back to last season and began Monday's game at the hands of a 22-4 Bulls first quarter run.
Meanwhile, Toronto is dealing with some injuries of their own. Terrence Ross suffered a ligament injury on Monday in his thumb and doesn't have a return date while DeMarre Carroll seems unlikely to play for the third straight game with plantar fasciitis. The Raptors lost their first home game on Tuesday night, 111-109, to Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks. Anthony scored 25, leading New York to their third straight win on the road.
Game Notes:
- The Raptors are the only remaining Eastern Conference team that the Sixers haven't beaten in Brett Brown's two-year tenure with the team. Toronto has won eight in a row.
- Over the eight straight victories over the Sixers, Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan is averaging 24.8 points.
- The Sixers are shooting just 30.8% from beyond the arc this season.
- Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall have been sent to the Sixers D-League affiliate, the 87ers, to continue their rehab when the Sixers have games and are on the road.
Projected Lineups:
Sixers
PG T.J. McConnell
SG Nik Stauskas
SF JaKarr Sampson
PF Jerami Grant
C Jahlil Okafor
Raptors
PG Kyle Lowry
SG DeMar Derozan
SF James Johnson
PF Luis Scola
C Jonas Valanciunas
Injuries:
Sixers:
OUT: Nerlens Noel (wrists), Robert Covington (knee), Tony Wroten (knee), Kendall Marshall (knee), Carl Landry (wrist), Joel Embiid (foot)
Raptors
OUT: Terrence Ross (thumb), DeMarre Carroll (plantar fasciitis)
Game Information:
Time: 7:05pm
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
TV: CSNPhilly
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Brandon Apter is a contributor to Sixerdelphia.com
