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Collin Murray-Boyles Questionable
Ochai Agbaji Probable
Kelly Oubre Out
Paul George Out
Joel Embiid Doubtful
Adem Bona Out
These might be two of the most surprising teams to rise in the East so far. The Raptors and 76ers had modest expectations for growth this year, but at their current pace, they’ll surpass them easily. Additions to Toronto and finally being healthy have unlocked a dangerously versatile team. Things in Toronto have become somewhat egalitarian. No one is taking control, with multiple players finishing games with 20+ points. The ball movement has been the most impressive part I didn't expect. The Raptors are third in the league in assists per game. Their unselfish play has led to the ball hitting the right hands nearly every possession. Sitting at 9-5 so far this year, things look great for them as they continue to cruise.
The 76ers, on the other hand, have been completely reinvented. The youth movement is in full swing after they landed VJ Edgecombe, who was picked third in the draft this year. Edgecombe has come out much more polished than anyone anticipated. He’s already a two-way threat. While his shooting has cooled off slightly during November, he’s still looking like the perfect running mate for Maxey. The pair has been the whole reason this team is sitting at 8-5. Maxey’s scoring abilities have been near the top of the league, putting him in the company of Luka and SGA. With such an effective combo in the backcourt, the 76ers really just need anything from the front court at this point. Paul George has only played 1 game this year, while Embiid has only appeared in 4. They need anything out of those two to make this team one of the scariest in the East. We’ll see if that happens, but this should be a decent matchup regardless.
The 6ers won the last meeting between these two in Philly. However, in that game, the 6ers had Embiid playing. Without him tonight, the 6ers are going to be in a tough spot. They’ve done well even missing PG and Embiid, but this Toronto team is real. They’re going to keep the game moving and score high. The biggest question mark is Toronto's defense. Can they throw enough at Maxey to slow him down? I think they can, and that’s why I’m taking the Toronto moneyline, the over on the 233.5 points, and the -1.5 spread for Toronto.
Money line: TOR (-125) / PHI (+105)
Total Points: 233.5
Spread: -1.5 TOR (-110) / +1.5 PHI (-110)
Maxey has been on fire lately, averaging over 30 points a game already. With Embiid and Paul George consistently out of the lineup, this has become his team. With so few scoring options healthy on the roster, Maxey’s attempts per game have skyrocketed. He’s shooting nearly 24 times a game, with a 45% field goal percentage and 41% from three. Facing a decent but not lethal Toronto defense should give him plenty of opportunities again tonight.
Ingram has had his moments in this Toronto offense. It’s not every night his name is called as the primary scorer, but tonight presents him with a particularly favorable matchup. With the 76ers front court completely out again tonight, Ingram should be able to find his spot all night. Especially if his three-point shot returns, he’ll easily reach around 20 points again.
This line just looks a little too high for me. Even with Drummond, who has the starting center position, 14 boards will be a lot. He is an excellent rebounder, but given Toronto's size and their ability to score in the midrange, Drummond will probably be pulled out of the paint. If he can post up in the low post, it will cut into his rebounding total as the team cleans up behind him.
The additions around Barnes this year have unlocked a defensive side that I didn’t know he had. He’s been terrific as the help defender and racking up defensive stats. In November alone, he’s averaging 2.5 blocks a game with two games already at 5 blocks. Considering the depth of talent on Philadelphia’s front court, Barnes should get some opportunities to make plays. We’ll see, but he’s only missed this two-block line twice this month.