Four things to watch as Sixers look to respond against Raptors

Four things to watch as Sixers look to respond against Raptors originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers will not need to wait long for an opportunity to move past their most lopsided loss of the season.

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Less than 48 hours after Boston’s 123-101 win exposed several of Philadelphia’s early weaknesses, the Sixers will host the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The Raptors are coming off a difficult meeting with the Celtics, too. Toronto led Boston by 22 points Wednesday before being outscored 61-34 over the final 29:24 of a 98-93 loss.

Philadelphia enters at 9-3 following Tuesday’s defeat. Toronto is 5-6 and will complete a back-to-back and its third game in four nights.

LeBron James has been ruled out because of low-back and sciatica management. Joel Embiid is questionable with right plantar fascia injury management. Toronto will be without Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes and Nate Bittle.

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Here are four areas to watch as the Sixers try to respond.

The possession battle

Few teams have forced opponents into mistakes as frequently as Toronto.

The Raptors have generated 18.9 turnovers per game, the highest mark in the NBA. They are also averaging 10.9 steals and nearly 15 offensive rebounds.

The Sixers have countered that type of pressure well. Their 13.0 turnovers per game are tied for one of the lowest marks in the league.

Something will have to give.

Toronto’s length remains disruptive even without Leonard and Barnes. The Raptors regularly crowd ball handlers, reach into passing lanes and send multiple players toward the offensive glass. Jakob Poeltl supplies size inside while RJ Barrett, Ja’Kobe Walter and Collin Murray-Boyles can create problems away from the ball.

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The Raptors’ pressure can punish a careless pass twice. It takes away a Sixers possession and gives Toronto an opportunity to score before the defense gets organized.

Philadelphia has largely avoided those mistakes while adjusting to a new lineup and playing at a quicker pace. Maintaining that control without James, who has handled a significant share of the playmaking, will be one of…

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Publish date : 2026-11-12 20:18:00

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