76ers at Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are no longer undefeated and they aim to get back on the winning track when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Toronto set a franchise mark with a 6-0 start but the impressive streak reached an end with Monday's 124-109 loss to the unbeaten Milwaukee Bucks.
Raptors star forward Kawhi Leonard was rested on the front end of the back-to-back and is slated to be back in the lineup against the 76ers. The contest was the second Leonard has sat out as he regains his fitness after playing in only nine games with the San Antonio Spurs last season because of a quadriceps injury. Philadelphia has recorded back-to-back victories and Monday's 113-92 rout of the Atlanta Hawks may have been the team's best performance of the young season. "I think we just needed a spark and I was able to provide that for the team," point guard Ben Simmons told reporters after scoring 15 of his 21 points in the third quarter. "I told the guys to keep running with me and I'll find them."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, NBCS Philadelphia Plus, TSN (Toronto)
ABOUT THE 76ERS (4-3): Backup point guard Markelle Fultz flashed some of his potential against Atlanta when he scored a career-best 16 points in 23 minutes. Fultz was a big disappointment last season after being the No. 1 overall pick and Philadelphia is letting him run the team while Simmons is resting and that is allowing him more freedom on the floor. "I'm a great basketball player," Fultz told reporters after the win over the Hawks. "I think I can do pretty much anything. I can pass the ball, I can pull up (and shoot) the 3, I can get to the rim. I just think I have an all-around game."
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (6-1): Toronto badly missed Leonard (26.6 average) in the showdown against the Bucks while scoring its fewest points of the season and putting forth a horrific showing (9-of-44) from 3-point range. Leonard's absence allowed power forward Serge Ibaka to get 21 shots and he poured in 30 points - one shy of his career high - and also collected nine rebounds. Point guard Kyle Lowry recorded 15 assists - three shy of his career high - but scored a season-low nine points and missed all nine 3-point attempts during a 3-of-14 shooting performance.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The 76ers have dropped their past 11 visits to Toronto.
2. Toronto G Fred VanVleet (toe) will likely miss his third straight game, while the status of SF OG Anunoby (personal reasons) is uncertain after he sat out Monday.
3. Philadelphia SF Wilson Chandler (hamstring) is expected to be cleared to make his season debut later this week.