NBA Preview from The Sports Network
Saturday, November 10th
(All times eastern)
Philadelphia 76ers (3-2) at Toronto Raptors (1-4), 7 p.m.
(Sports Network) - Evan Turner said before a win over the Boston Celtics his
team needed to shoot at least 40 percent from the floor.
The Philadelphia 76ers were close to 50 percent and shot 48.8 for the game in
a 106-100 victory Friday night. The Sixers look to close out a three-game road
trip with a perfect record Saturday against the Toronto Raptors.
Philadelphia had its best offensive performance of the season and Turner led
the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Turner has at least six rebounds in
all five games. Jrue Holiday had a double-double of his own with 21 points and
14 assists for the 76ers, winners of two straight.
"This is probably one of our best games scoring wise," Holiday said after
recording his third double-double of the season. "Those guys got out there and
ran the floor and knocked down shots, big shots. I guess that just happens at
the TD Garden."
This marked the first regular season meeting between the teams since Boston
eliminated Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals in seven games
last season. Philadelphia held off a late Boston rally and scored 26 fast-
break points.
"I thought we hung in the game, kind of fought back," Celtics coach Doc Rivers
said, "but every time we needed a stop tonight, we didn't get it."
Dorell Wright and Thaddeus Young scored 15 points apiece in the win. Sixers
guard Jason Richardson missed his third straight game with an ankle sprain and
is expected to miss Saturday's game.
Following Saturday's game up north, the 76ers will head home for a five-game
residency versus Milwaukee, Detroit, Utah, Cleveland and Toronto.
The Raptors lost both games on a recent mini road trip. They fell to the
Oklahoma City Thunder by 20 on Tuesday, then lost the next night in Dallas,
109-104.
Andrea Bargnani (25 points), DeMarr DeRozan (24 points) and Jose Calderon (11
points) anchored a late fourth-quarter comeback attempt that came up just a
little short.
"I thought our guys did a heck of a job of fighting in the second half,"
Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "The group we had in there, Andrea, DeMar, and
Jose played with a purpose and momentum coming in. They really put us in a
position to almost win the game after having a slow start. I like what I saw
in the second half, but we have to do something about the first quarter."
In their last two outings, the Raptors have been outscored by 25 total points
in the opening quarter.
Things may get better for the Raptors Saturday night. Point guard Kyle Lowry,
who leads the team in scoring, assists, steals and almost all shooting
percentage categories imaginable, didn't practice Friday and is a game-time
decision Saturday night. He sprained his right ankle and didn't play against
Dallas.
The 76ers have won four of the last five contests against the Raptors and
three of the last four in Canada.
11/10 10:47:46 ET
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