PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* NBA Side of the Day >> 5-0 Tuesday! 7-0 in Hoops L2 Days!
(NBA) Toronto vs. Philadelphia,
Point Spread: -5.00 | -109.00 Toronto (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -5.00 | -109.00 Toronto (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 28-13 Toronto Raptors own the East's second-best record and will play tonight in Philadelphia against the 76ers, who check in with a record almost the reverse of the Raptors, at 13-26.
Toronto: The Raptors won 119-109 last night (Nets' 11th straight loss) behind 36 points from DeMar DeRozan (28.2-5.5-3.8) and a career-high 33 from Corey Joseph, who started alongside DeRozan in the backcourt while the Raptors rested Kyle Lowry, their starting point PG. Lowry (22.2-5.0-7.2), a Philadelphia native and Villanova product was held out due to an assortment of bumps and bruises, but is expected to be ready (and fresh) for his latest visit to his hometown. DeRozan also contributed 11 rebounds and six assists. Joseph (9.4 PPG) typically serves as Lowry's backup but enjoyed the best game of his career, connecting on 15-of-22 shots.
Philadelphia: Thirteen wins may not seem like much but when one considers that Phily has had just 19, 18 and 10 wins over an entire season the last three years, 13 wins in the team's first 39 games is quite an improvement. No player has been more important to Philly's cause than rookie center Joel Embiid, who has almost single-handedly transformed the 76ers from a league laughingstock to a team that may have to be reckoned with in the next few years. Embiid heads into tonight's game leading all rookies inn scoring (19.7), rebounding (7.7) and blocked shots (2.4), all of which are also team highs. He has put up those numbers despite averaging only 25.3 MPG, as the 76ers are limiting Embiid, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, to no more than 28 minutes after he missed two seasons while recovering from a pair of foot surgeries.
The pick: It's hard to argue with Embiid's contributions or Philly's improvement but the fact is, the 76ers have not matched up well against Toronto's 'firepower.' Toronto ranks 3rd in scoring (111.5 PPG) on 47.2% shooting (4th), 39.0% on threes (2nd) and 81.4% from the FT line (3rd). Philly has lost and failed to cover the last six meetings between te theo teams going back to last season, including losing both games this season while allowing 122 and 123 points! Toronto's 123-114 win back on Dec. 14 was its seventh straight in Philadelphia. Make the Raptors a 10* play.
Toronto: The Raptors won 119-109 last night (Nets' 11th straight loss) behind 36 points from DeMar DeRozan (28.2-5.5-3.8) and a career-high 33 from Corey Joseph, who started alongside DeRozan in the backcourt while the Raptors rested Kyle Lowry, their starting point PG. Lowry (22.2-5.0-7.2), a Philadelphia native and Villanova product was held out due to an assortment of bumps and bruises, but is expected to be ready (and fresh) for his latest visit to his hometown. DeRozan also contributed 11 rebounds and six assists. Joseph (9.4 PPG) typically serves as Lowry's backup but enjoyed the best game of his career, connecting on 15-of-22 shots.
Philadelphia: Thirteen wins may not seem like much but when one considers that Phily has had just 19, 18 and 10 wins over an entire season the last three years, 13 wins in the team's first 39 games is quite an improvement. No player has been more important to Philly's cause than rookie center Joel Embiid, who has almost single-handedly transformed the 76ers from a league laughingstock to a team that may have to be reckoned with in the next few years. Embiid heads into tonight's game leading all rookies inn scoring (19.7), rebounding (7.7) and blocked shots (2.4), all of which are also team highs. He has put up those numbers despite averaging only 25.3 MPG, as the 76ers are limiting Embiid, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, to no more than 28 minutes after he missed two seasons while recovering from a pair of foot surgeries.
The pick: It's hard to argue with Embiid's contributions or Philly's improvement but the fact is, the 76ers have not matched up well against Toronto's 'firepower.' Toronto ranks 3rd in scoring (111.5 PPG) on 47.2% shooting (4th), 39.0% on threes (2nd) and 81.4% from the FT line (3rd). Philly has lost and failed to cover the last six meetings between te theo teams going back to last season, including losing both games this season while allowing 122 and 123 points! Toronto's 123-114 win back on Dec. 14 was its seventh straight in Philadelphia. Make the Raptors a 10* play.
