Banged-up squads square off in Raptors vs 76ers

Things have been a bit rough in Toronto as of late, with the Raptors suffering a spate of injuries to key players. They will again play without both Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard, as they did in Wednesday night’s loss to the Boston Celtics. The date of Barnes’s return is still TBD (Kawhi will undoubtedly be out for a while longer).

They’ve won just two of their last six and will be looking to hold down the fort on the second night of a back-to-back, all while missing some key players. The Raps will need young players like Ja’Kobe Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles to step up, especially if Barnes is still out. Can Toronto do enough on their own home court to keep their record from dipping below .500?

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Know thy enemy

Unfortunately for Toronto, Philadelphia 76ers are off to a great start, but they’ve been a bit of an odd team so far. For all of their offensive talent — a starting lineup featuring LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey (not to mention Anfernee Simons off the bench) is absolutely bonkers — they’re just 21st in the NBA in offensive efficiency so far this year.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 10: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics in action against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 123-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

They don’t really shoot (or make) threes, partly a result of swapping Paul George for a more downhill player in Brown, and they don’t generate extra opportunities by crashing the offensive glass. They’re also surprisingly low in assists, especially considering the playmaking gifts of James and, to a lesser extent, Embiid, owed no doubt to some issues with spacing, a coach not exactly known for offensive ingenuity, and a lineup that’s still largely unaccustomed to playing together.

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It also doesn’t help that…

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Publish date : 2026-11-12 18:35:00

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