(SportsNetwork.com) – The winless Philadelphia 76ers could be staring down an
0-10 start when they open a four-game road trip Sunday against the Toronto
Raptors at Air Canada Centre.
The 76ers are 0-6 and have a three-game tour of Texas on the horizon after
visiting the Atlantic Division-rival Raptors. Dallas, Houston and defending
champion San Antonio are on the docket for Philadelphia, which started a
season 0-7 once before back in 1972-73 (0-15).
Philadelphia is 0-2 on the road and went 9-32 away from home last season. It
hasn’t posted a winning road mark since going 23-18 in 2002-03.
The Sixers lost all four games on their recent homestand and couldn’t pull off
a win against the Chicago Bulls in Friday’s 118-115 setback. Tony Wroten led
the way with a season-high 31 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Wroten
is averaging 22.5 ppg and has scored 20 or more points in four straight and
five of six games.
Hollis Thompson scored 21 points and both Henry Sims and Luc Mbah a Moute had
16 points. Mbah a Moute came down with a team-best 11 rebounds for the Sixers,
who shot 47.3 percent and forced Chicago into 17 turnovers.
“We want respect, we want to work hard, to have tenacity and spirit that
reflects this city,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said. “The results will follow.”
The 115 points were a season best for Philly, which is one of two winless
teams in the league (Lakers, 0-5).
Sixers big man Nerlens Noel did not play Friday and is questionable against
the Raptors with a sprained left ankle suffered in a loss to the Magic. Noel
is posting an average of 7.2 points and 5.6 boards.
Toronto has won three in a row and improved to 5-1 for the first time in team
lore with Friday’s 103-84 victory over the Washington Wizards in the opener of
a franchise-record seven-game homestand.
Toronto’s next road game won’t be until Nov. 22 at Cleveland.
DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points and Terrence Ross added 18 for the Raptors,
which shot 43.8 percent and got a triple-double from Kyle Lowry. Lowry
finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Lou Williams, a former
Sixer, had 13 points off the bench.
“We played well from start to finish,” said Lowry. “There were a lot more
positives than negatives this game. We can finally say that.”
The Raptors will also host Orlando, Chicago, Utah, Memphis and Milwaukee, and
are 3-0 at Air Canada Centre. The defending Atlantic division champions have
won four straight at home dating back to last season.
In injury news for the Raptors, forward Amir Johnson is questionable Sunday
with a sore left ankle. He is averaging 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds for
Toronto, which is averaging 105.3 ppg.
Raptors coach Dwane Casey needs three wins to tie Lenny Wilkens (113) for
second on the team’s all-time coaching victories list. Sam Mitchell holds the
record with 156 victories.
Dating back to the start of last season, the Raptors are 38-2 when ahead
entering the fourth quarter, including a perfect 23-0 at Air Canada Centre.
Toronto has won 30 straight games when leading after three quarters.
Toronto won all four meetings with Philadelphia last season and are unbeaten
in the past three matchups at home in this series. The Raptors are 37-35 all-
time against the 76ers.
