Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors Prediction, Betting Odds, Picks

• The Philadelphia 76ers are looking for victory after losing three of their last five.
• The Toronto Raptors are coming off of a 45-point blowout loss where they had only four regular roster members available.
• The Raptors won their first meeting with the Sixers this season, 115-109.

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Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors Odds

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Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors Predictions and Picks

Despite Toronto expecting to have three rotation players return to the lineup, they are still starved for talent and lacking chemistry with their hardship exception players. The Sixers have their own roster issues, but have found success through Joel Embiid’s brilliant recent play.

Pick:

Philadelphia 76ers def. Toronto Raptors (-265)

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Injury Report

How Can the Sixers Beat the Raptors?

The Sixers have the advantage in terms of roster availability in this game, but they’ll need to keep their guard up against an energetic if not unfamiliar defense.

Toronto fielded four completely new players in their last game, which showed on the defensive end. Toronto allowed their opponents to shoot 52.8% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range.

Like in their last meeting with Toronto, Philadelphia will want to get off to a fast start. With significant practice time missing and a cast of unfamiliar teammates, the Raptors won’t be able to overcome an early Sixers lead.

Sixers Key Player: (C) Joel Embiid

? 36 PTS, 13 REB ?@JoelEmbiid drops his FIFTH 30+ PT game of the month to power the @sixers in their win! pic.twitter.com/KawrsJUp1m

— NBA (@NBA) December 27, 2021

Against one of his biggest Eastern Conference rivals, Joel Embiid is sure to come out with a strong performance. However, he’ll be especially empowered against a Toronto Raptors lineup without much of their front court.

In his last game, a win over the Washington Wizards, Embiid posted 36 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks on 12 of 17 shooting from the field. The combination of Daniel Gafford and Montrezl Harrell were unable to contain him, which projects poorly for the smaller Raptors frontcourt of Chris Boucher and Khem Birch.

With their shortened roster, the Toronto Raptors allowed the Cavaliers to shoot 34 of 54 inside the arc in their last game. So long as Embiid stays aggressive in the paint, the advantage will always be his.

How Can the Raptors Beat the Sixers?

Even with the possibility of Pascal Siakam, Khem Birch, and Gary Trent Jr. returning to the lineup, winning this game is a tall task for the Toronto Raptors.

In their last game, a 45-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto were dreadful from pretty much every part of the court. Partial to their on-court failures was the overall lack of chemistry as four of the eight players that took the court met the team for the very first time on the bus ride over.

The Raptors won’t be able to overcome their lack of familiarity, but they can tighten the screws on defence and the rebounding column. Against a Sixers team that attacks from the inside-out, Toronto must limit the their opponents’ success in the paint to stay competitive.

Raptors Key Player: (F) Yuta Watanabe

What a sequence ✨ pic.twitter.com/4xKqjwmxDh

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 26, 2021

The Toronto Raptors are famous for finding treasure where other teams see trash, and in Yuta Watanabe the 2019 NBA Champions seem to have found another one of the league’s most undervalued contributors.

In his most recent game, a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Watanabe posted 26 points, 13 rebounds, a block, and a steal in 37 minutes of play. While he was just one of eight players that even took the court, he was clearly Toronto’s most effective player.

While the Raptors may have some players back from health and safety protocol, it will be comforting for Nick Nurse to know he has a willing worker in Watanabe. The scoring wrinkle added to the defensive specialists game will be more than welcome to the undermanned Raptors.

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