Game Thread: Toronto Raptors at Philadelphia 76ers preseason

Remember how much fun it was to watch the Toronto Raptors run the Philadelphia 76ers ragged on Monday night? We get to watch it again — tonight!

The second half of this home-and-home series promised to be slightly different, however. For one thing, one player who impressed for the Raptors on Monday is out — Yuta Watanabe has a calf strain. (Also, Kyle Lowry is not starting for the Raptors, despite Nick Nurse accidentally mentioning his name when asked who would be starting tonight.)

Perhaps even more notably, though, the 76ers are much closer to full strength. Both Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid are back in the lineup, although Ben Simmons is still nowhere to be seen). The Raptors big men, still missing their best true centre in Khem Birch, will have their hands full tonight. On the other hand, Matisse Thybulle has been ruled out with right shoulder soreness; he’ll be reevaluated in a week.

This is the first actual road trip for this Raptors team, and road trips, traditionally, have meant bonding opportunities. The world is a little different now, but one doesn’t pass up this kind of opportunity:

For the record, the complete and correct Rocky movie rankings are as follows:

1. Rocky
2. Creed
3. Rocky III
4. Rocky II
5. Rocky IV
6. Creed II
7. Rocky Balboa
8. Every other boxing movie ever made
9. Rocky V

Now let’s see if the Raptors can go the distance tonight, shall we?

Where to Watch

TSN, 7 PM ET

Lineups

Toronto — Fred VanVleet, Goran Dragic, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa

Philadelphia — Seth Curry, Tyrese Maxey, Danny Green, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid

Injuries

Toronto — Yuta Watanabe (left calf strain — out); Chris Boucher (finger surgery — out); Khem Birch (health and safety protocols — out); Pascal Siakam (shoulder surgery — out)

Philadelphia — Ben Simmons (not with team — out); Grant Riller (torn meniscus — out); Matisse Thybulle (shoulder — out)