Raptors at 76ers
THE STORY: The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t won a basketball game since clinching a playoff spot on April 1. The 76ers figure to change that fact on Friday when they host the woeful Toronto Raptors. Philadelphia has lost three straight games since beating the New Jersey Nets on April 1 and fell behind the New York Knicks into sixth place in the Eastern Conference seeding positioning by losing to the Knicks on Wednesday. Finishing fifth is important since that placement draws a first-round playoff assignment against the inconsistent Orlando Magic instead of a possible series with the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat. Toronto is coming off a loss to the hapless Cleveland Cavaliers, who have NBA’s worst record.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SNET, CSP
ABOUT THE 76ERS (40-39): Philadelphia hasn’t lost four straight games since losing five consecutive games in November during a bumpy 3-13 start under first-year coach Doug Collins. Thaddeus Young had 25 points and Elton Brand had 24 points and nine rebounds during the 97-92 loss to the Knicks that leaves the 76ers a half-game behind New York in the playoff seeding battle. First-round pick Evan Turner was back in struggling mode against the Knicks with four points on 2-of-8 shooting. Turner played one of his best games of the season the previous night when he had 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting against the Boston Celtics. Andre Iguodala’s play is suffering while battling knee soreness. Iguodala is averaging just 11 points and shooting 36.7 percent over the last five contests.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (21-57): Toronto has lost eight of nine games and needs a split of its final four contests to avoid the third 60-loss season in franchise history. The Raptors are beat up and center Andrea Bargnani (ankle) and point guard Jose Calderon (hamstring) will miss Friday’s game with injuries. Forward Amir Johnson (knee) will be a game-time decision and guard Leandro Barbosa (finger) is questionable. Forward Reggie Evans figures to be counted on heavily again after scoring a season-best 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in Wednesday’s 104-96 loss to Cleveland. Evans had a 17-rebound performance against Orlando on Sunday. Guard Jerryd Bayless tallied 28 points off the bench against the Cavaliers for his third 20-point outing in four games.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Bayless is averaging 24 points over the last four contests. Brand is averaging 19.3 points and 8.3 rebounds over the past four games. Toronto forward James Johnson is shooting just 34.5 percent over the last four outings. Philadelphia guard Jrue Holiday is shooting just 30.6 percent (15 of 49) over the last three games.
KEY STATISTIC: Toronto is allowing 113.2 points per game during the last nine contests. Philadelphia is averaging just 87 points per game during its three-game losing streak.
SEASON SERIES: Toronto has won two of the three meetings, including a 94-86 victory in Philadelphia on Nov. 17. The Raptors won at home 106-90 on Nov. 24 while the 76ers registered a 107-94 victory in Toronto on Jan. 26.
KEY INJURIES: TORONTO: C Andrea Bargnani (ankle); G Jose Calderon (hamstring); F Amir Johnson (knee); G Leandro Barbosa (finger). PHILADELPHIA: G Louis Williams (hamstring).
LAST WORD: “Sometimes we just come out and we start slow and I think any team in the NBA is capable to beat any team so we put ourselves in a 25-point hole in the first half and it is tough to come back from that.” – Toronto guard Jerryd Bayless on the frequent slow starts that have sabotaged the Raptors.