76ers Seek Redemption Against Raptors Amid Super Bowl Celebrations

PHILADELPHIA, Penn. — As Philadelphia revels in the glory of its Super Bowl victory, the city’s basketball team grapples with its own setbacks. The struggling Philadelphia 76ers aim to turn their fortunes around on Tuesday as they host the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center. Currently on a three-game losing streak, the 76ers have dropped 12 of their last 17 contests.

In their latest outing, the 76ers fell to the Milwaukee Bucks, 135-127, despite standout performances from Tyrese Maxey, who scored 39 points, and Joel Embiid, who contributed 27 points and 12 rebounds. With the Eagles having celebrated their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, fans are apprehensive about their basketball team’s prospects.

Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, hinted at the possibility of undergoing another offseason surgery on his left knee if his condition does not improve. “No one knew it was going to be like this. After the surgery, I didn’t have enough time. I came back for the playoffs, and then after the Olympics, then right back to the regular season,” Embiid explained to reporters, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

He added, “So I think at some point, I probably just need to, especially when summer comes around, recover. If that keeps being the same pattern, obviously you’ve got to try something else.”

During the game against the Bucks, the 76ers struggled defensively, allowing Milwaukee to hit 43.6 percent of its three-point attempts and securing 19 offensive rebounds. Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse criticized his team’s defense, stating, “They obviously hit a super-high percentage, but they had a lot of good looks. A lot of them on consecutive possessions. The offensive rebounding also was crucial.”

Embiid has missed 36 of the team’s 52 games this season, including their earlier 115-107 loss to Toronto on October 25. Maxey posted 24 points in that game, though he shot poorly, going 6-for-23 overall and just 2-of-12 from beyond the arc.

The Raptors also enter the matchup seeking to end their four-game losing streak, after falling, 94-87, to the Houston Rockets. Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 27 points in their previous meeting with Philadelphia, but he struggled against the Rockets, missing all eight of his three-point attempts.

On a positive note for the Raptors, guard Immanuel Quickley showcased his potential, scoring 20 points while contributing eight rebounds and three assists. Coach Darko Rajakovic expressed satisfaction with Quickley’s gradual return from hip and groin issues, stating, “That’s the whole purpose of building him up and having that minutes restriction, so he can go and play really hard.”

Additionally, RJ Barrett remains sidelined as he continues to go through the NBA’s concussion protocol. Rajakovic acknowledged, “There are a couple of hoops that he needs to go through, so it’s going to take a couple of days for him to be cleared.”