The Sixers will play their second preseason game tonight against the Raptors. Here’s what to watch in their revenge matchup against Toronto.
When/How
Then Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors will tip-off at 7:00 PM tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. Unlike their last preseason game, fans will actually be able to watch their team even if they can’t be there in person.
The game will be televised on both NBC Sports Philadelphia and on the NBC Sports MyTeams app.
There will be plenty to watch in tonight’s game, including a possible minutes boost for one of the Sixers’ youngest contributors.
Isaiah Joe
Isaiah Joe is one of the best-kept secrets on the Sixers roster. Everyone knows and fawns over Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, and BBall Paul, all the while Joe has become a legitimate sharp-shooter.
Not only is Joe electric from beyond the arc, but he’s also a tenacious defender. Of all the Sixers’ youth, Isaiah Joe is the closest to being considered a 3&D player. That type of ability screams value to a contender, and it looks like Joe will be a fixture for the foreseeable future for the Sixers.
Sixers’ Head Coach Doc Rivers has certainly noticed Isaiah Joe’s progression. Rivers even shared his thoughts on the sophomore and what he told him:
“We got to get him on the floor more…I told him, ‘I don’t care what unit you’re on, just keep going back and forth’ that he’s got to get on the floor more.”
It will be interesting tonight to see how many minutes Isaiah Joe gets and with whom, especially as it looks like the stars are returning to the team.
The Stars Return
No, Ben Simmons isn’t back, at least not yet. Still, Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris will be “most likely” in tonight’s lineup against the Raptors.
The return of the stars is very welcome as fans are chomping at the bit to see quality Sixers basketball. Beyond that, it’s good for the team to have their best players back on the hardwood.
With Embiid and Harris on the court, it will be much easier to truly evaluate players like Tyrese Maxey and Shake Milton as they look to prove that they can be floor generals in Simmons’ absence.
Fans should surely pay close attention to Embiid and Harris and how the team around them performs.
