Raptors vs 76ers: Game Preview and Notes

The 76ers are back in action tonight after a brutal loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. In the 24-point loss, the Sixers were without Joel Embiid, who was a last minute scratch from the lineup due to back tightness.
Without Embiid, the offense was out of sync and back-up big man Dwight Howard got in foul trouble early. Tobias Harris had somewhat of a bounce back game, scoring 16 while Ben Simmons added 15 but it simply wasn’t enough to overcome the Andre Drummond led Cavs offense.
Embiid is back in the lineup tonight and the Sixers will be looking to rebound vs the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors enter tonight 0-2 on the year and are also looking to bounce back after a loss to the Spurs in which they were outscored 9-0 in the game’s final minutes.
Here’s what I’m keeping an eye on tonight.
Kyle Lowry and Defense on the Perimeter (again)
North Philly’s finest Kyle Lowry always comes to play at the Wells Fargo Center. During his last three regular season games at the WFC, Lowry has averaged 22 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds per game while shooting 42% from beyond the arc.
Cleveland guards Darius Garland and Colin Sexton (Sexland) were able to get the best of the perimeter on Sunday night. Ben Simmons and the Sixers perimeter defense will need to step up tonight. Simmons will get some much needed help from Matisse Thybulle, who is expected to get extra minutes tonight due to a Furkan Korkmaz injury.
Exit Marc Gasol, Enter Aaron Baynes
Thankfully for the Sixers, the Raptors no longer have Marc Gasol who always made things difficult for Joel Embiid. Embiid doesn’t like Baynes. He’s made that clear on social media and during games against him while he was on the Celtics. The last time these two met, the Sixers won 118-115 and Embiid had a field day on Baynes scoring 37 points and grabbing 22 rebounds. Embiid was 20-for-21 from the line.
Take the Sixers -1.5. Embiid and company will bounce back and Twitter will stop crying after a disappointing loss to the Cavaliers.
Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY