Embiid-less Sixers seek first win as they visit the Toronto Raptors

By: Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Last night the Sixers opened their home schedule with a loss to the rival Boston Celtics, but the Sixers will have no time to dwell on it as they have their first back-to-back of the season against the Toronto Raptors

The Raptors won their only game of the season against the Chicago Bulls and figure to be one of the top teams in the east once again this season. 


Embiid not cleared for back-to-backs

Joel Embiid has looked worth every bit of his mammoth contract extension at times throughout the first two games but he has yet to be cleared to play in consecutive games, and he will not dress tonight. 

Embiid is averaging 27.5 minutes per contest early this season, well above where many expected him to be this early in the season in terms of playing time. 

The Sixers will have to look to Amir Johnson, Dario Saric, and Jahlil Okafor (health permitting) to make up for the loss of Embiid's 14.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. 


Raptors bigs have a chance at a huge night

Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka are a formidable duo in general, and without Embiid playing they may be impossible to stop. 

Valanciunas was dominant against the Chicago Bulls in the Raptors' season opening win. The Lithuanian big man scored 23 points and added 15 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. 

Ibaka did not play as well as Valanciunas, scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds in 24 minutes. With Embiid out and the Sixers varying usage of Ben Simmons on the block, the door is wide open for Ibaka to bounce back with a strong performance tonight. 


Ben Simmons off to a historic start

It was promised to Sixers fans that Ben Simmons would be a generational player, and just two games into his NBA career he has already lived up to that billing by putting his name next to legends of the game. 

Simmons is the fifth player to begin his career with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in each of his first two games, joining the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Connie Hawkins, Oscar Robertson, and Elgin Baylor, all of which are in the hall of fame:

After matching up with John Wall and Kyrie Irving, Simmons will have to face another elite point guard in Villanova product and Philadelphia native Kyle Lowry tonight. 

It will be interesting to see if Simmons can extend his historic streak to three games. 

 

Matchup Preview  |  October 21, 2017
@ RaptorsLogo-400x400
Philadelphia 76ers
(0-2)
  Toronto Raptors
(1-0)
Projected Starters
Ben Simmons Point Guard Kyle Lowry
Jerryd Bayless Shooting Guard Norman Powell
J.J. Redick Small Forward Demar DeRozan
Robert Covington Power Forward Serge Ibaka
Amir Johnson Center Jonas Valanciunas
Injury Report
Richaun Holmes
out/wrist
  Malcolm Miller
out/ankle
Jahlil Okafor
game-time decision/illness
   
Joel Embiid
out/rest
   

Broadcast Info

When: 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Listen: 97.5 The Fanatic

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