The 76ers face the Toronto Raptors on the road Tuesday at 7:30pm. Toronto suffered their second-largest loss in franchise history on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing 144-99.

It wasn’t a total surprise Toronto lost, considering they were without a majority of their team due to the league’s health and safety protocols. The Sixers and Raptors have played each other once this season, with the Raptors winning 115-109 back in November behind a 32-point outburst from Fred VanVleet.

Health and Safety Protocols

VanVleet will be out tonight as he and a laundry list of Raptors players are dealing with health and safety protocols. Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr. and Khem Birch have all been cleared to return to the team and are probable to play.

The 76ers are still shorthanded as Shake Milton, Andre Drummond and Danny Green remain in health and safety protocols. Georges Niang returned to the floor Sunday against Washington after missing the team’s last few games due to COVID-19. Niang finished with six points, draining both of his three-pointers, and grabbed five boards.

EMVPIID’S Continued Dominance

In the Sixers’ last game against the Wizards, Joel Embiid led the team with 36 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks. Embiid joined Philadelphia legend Allen Iverson as the only two Sixers to reach 7,000 career points in their first 300 games. Embiid has been unstoppable over his last four games but the Sixers have managed to only go 2-2 during that stretch.

Obviously, Embiid is the key to winning this game on the road, and I don’t think Toronto, even more so with a makeshift COVID roster, has anyone that can stop the big man from dominating again tonight.

If Siakam plays, which I think he will, I’m not too concerned about it. The Raptors and 76ers played each other three times last season, and Embiid averaged 24 points and 15 rebounds against Toronto. I’ll take my chances on Embiid over anyone that the Raptors throw his way.

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Tobias Harris remains the 76ers key to success

If you read any of my articles, you know I always am talking shit on Tobias Harris, but only because we expect better play from a guy on a max contract. Harris put up good numbers against Washington, going 10-16 from the field en route to finishing with 23 points. He has been everything but consistent this year and if he can find a rhythm, it will do wonders for the 76ers.

Prediction

The last time I said I felt confident about the 76ers winning a game was when I previewed their matchup against the Hawks, and look how that turned out. However the show goes on, and tonight, I like the 76ers winning on the road, so let’s roll with -6.5 (-110) and Under 213.5 (-109).

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports