Who's Playing
Matchup: Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Records: Raptors (29-14), 76ers (29-16)
Where to Watch
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 22
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: TSN, ESPN and NBC Sports Philadelphia
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Game Preview
The Raptors and 76ers have faced off twice already this season with each team picking up a win on their home court. Both teams enter riding four-game win streaks with just a single game separating them in the Eastern Conference standings.
Toronto has finally gotten healthy after a rough stretch of injuries to significant rotation players and its win streak represents that. With Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol and Norman Powell all back in the lineup, the Raptors have picked up right where they left off, finding success with their full roster just as they did at the start of the season.
Of all the players returning to action, Powell has been the catalyst to spark this team's run. The reserve guard poured in 27 points on six 3-pointers in the Raptors' win over the Atlanta Hawks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and 17 of those points came in big moments of the fourth quarter which ignited a run to lead Toronto to victory.
27 points in 25 mins.
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 21, 2020
Do you, @npowell2404. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/U0v16ilP0i
Powell has now scored 20 or more points in eight of his last nine games dating back to before his injury and his five-straight 20-point outings is the best stretch of his career.
However, star forward Pascal Siakam has not flourished the way that Powell has since returning from injury. The reigning Most Improved Player of the Year still looks like he's getting back into the swing of things, averaging just 16.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the five games back from his groin injury. The Raptors will need him to get going if they're going to take a lead in the season series against the 76ers.
As for Philly, Ben Simmons has taken his play to another level in Joel Embiid's absence, averaging 21.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game leading the Sixers to a 5-2 record without their All-Star centre.
Simmons is coming off of arguably the best game of his career, recording his first 30-point triple-double on MLK Day with 34 points, 12 assists, 12 rebounds and five steals in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.
34 PTS | 12 REB | 12 AST
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 21, 2020
🗳️ https://t.co/8XCMYg4X1J x #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/2PhH9JzO6b
Can Simmons keep this up to extend the 76ers win streak to five games?
Injury Report
Raptors
- Dewan Hernandez (ankle) – Out
76ers
- Joel Embiid (hand) – Out
Game Notes
- The Raptors are averaging 128.5 points shooting 52.6% from the field over their last four games
- Norman Powell has scored 20 points or more in five-consecutive games, the best streak of his career
- The Raptors have forced 20 or more turnovers in three of their last four games
- Kyle Lowry is 21 assists shy of passing Jose Calderon (3,770) to become the Raptors all-time leader in assists
- Ben Simmons career-game of 34 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists and five steals on 80% shooting against the Nets was the first of its kind in NBA history
- The 76ers had 12 steals against the Nets and are now 9-3 in games where they record 10+ steals this season
- Ben Simmons's 2.2 steals per game leads the NBA
Last Time They Played
Date: Dec. 8, 2019
Score: 76ers 110, Raptors 104
76ers: Tobias Harris – 26 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST
Raptors: Kyle Lowry – 26 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL