The Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors were set for a divisional matchup. The Raptors were playing their second game of a back-to-back, after beating the Atlanta Hawks 109-97. Philadelphia broke a two-game losing streak in a game where they brought back their iconic black jerseys. With the win tonight, the 76ers jumped the New York Knicks for first place in the division.
76ers Get a Big Division Win
After losing two straight games to the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, they were able to bounce back in a big way. All five of their starters scored double digits, and three of them had 20 or more points. Tyrese Maxey led the team in scoring once again with 31 points and 7 assists. Joel Embiid wasn’t far behind him with 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Embiid and Maxey continue to be one of the best duos when they’re on the floor, leading their team to a much-needed victory.
The best player on the floor tonight for the 76ers was Trendon Watford. In his first start of the season, he put together a triple-double and dominated on every front. Watford had 20 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists. He was a pivotal piece in the rotation tonight, and I’d expect him to remain the starting power forward in their upcoming games.
It was a tough night for the rookie VJ Edgecombe, as he just couldn’t knock down a lot of shots. Edgecombe was 5-of-15 from the floor and shot 0-of-4 from three. He was able to find some rhythm in the fourth quarter, finishing with 11 points. He wasn’t great on offense, but his athleticism came up big tonight, putting the Raptors off balance many times. The Sixers will be back in action tomorrow night against the Detroit Pistons.
Big Game Coming Up
Tomorrow night’s matchup between the Pistons and 76ers will be a fun one to watch. Detroit has won its last five games in a row, sitting at 7-2 on the season. The guards will be the matchup to keep an eye on, as Cade Cunningham will go against Maxey. This could be a potential playoff preview, as both teams are currently on track to be top seeds in the Eastern Conference.
The 76ers will have their hands full tomorrow as Detroit has many playmakers that are tough for opposing defenses to handle. With Embiid playing tonight, it’s unlikely that he’ll suit up tomorrow. Adem Bona and Andre Drummond will try to contain Jalen Duren, who’s been unbelievable to start the season. Duren’s had 5 double-doubles in his first nine games, and has dominated on the glass.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
