The Philadelphia 76ers will look to win their fifth straight game when they host the Toronto Raptors on Monday.
The Sixers captured their fourth in a row with a 118-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday.
Even playing without Tyrese Maxey (fractured left foot), Tobias Harris (back) and Furkan Korkmaz (non-COVID illness), the Sixers received 34 points and 13 rebounds from Joel Embiid and 27 points and nine assists from James Harden.
Having Embiid in the lineup on any night can mask a lot of issues.
Embiid has scored at least 30 in six straight games, the longest active streak in the league.
Not only have the Sixers won four straight at home, they’re 10-1 in the last 11 at Wells Fargo Center. It’s a good sign for a team which struggled early.
The struggling Raptors will aim to snap a five-game losing streak when they battle the Sixers.
The Raptors fell 126-110 to the depleted Golden State Warriors on Sunday despite 27 points from Pascal Siakam, 22 from Fred VanVleet and 17 from Scottie Barnes.
Toronto has been without OG Anunoby (hip) for the last four games and Gary Trent Jr. (thigh) for the last two. The prognosis appears to be more encouraging for Anunoby.
As for Trent Jr.,”it doesn’t look like it’s getting much better,” Nurse said. “I think they’re searching for more information at this point.”
The Raptors’ five consecutive losses is their worst skid since a seven-game losing streak to complete the 2020-21 season.
The losing streak can be correlated to some key injuries. But miscues on defense have also been a consistent issue.
Golden State shot 53.1 percent from the field, including 18 of 39 from 3-point territory.
