In such a desperate time for the Philadelphia 76ers, any news is good news, especially if it involves a crisis in the opposition team. With the addition of Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors’ increasing injury list, the Sixers, who maintain their desire to win this season, are looking to capitalize on that to increase their slim chances of clinching a spot in the play-in tournament.
Tonight, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors meet at the Scotiabank Arena in a matchup that could see the Sixers switch positions with Toronto in the reverse standings if they fail to secure a win.
Adding more intensity to the match is the tank-off between two teams that could have a decent chance at landing Cooper Flagg, as both teams are tied for sixth and seventh place in the draft lottery. As things stand, there is every possibility that the Sixers could leapfrog the Raptors in the standings for the draft lottery, which is huge for a team that looks to bounce back from this disappointing season without delay.
Despite the game being a grave affair, both teams won’t be putting their best foot forward as they battle a lingering ache that has been the bane of their struggles this season. Between them, 19 players are listed on the injury report, with 14 of them being ruled out of tonight’s matchup.
Raptors forward Scottie Barnes becomes the latest addition to the list, having been listed as questionable with a hand sprain. According to reports, the forward has been dealing with the injury for the past few games but re-aggravated it in Monday’s win over the Washington Wizards. With averages of 19.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, the point forward has been having a similarly strong season in his 2024 All-Star campaign, though his efficiency is down.
Immanuel Quickley, the Raptors’ 25-year-old starting guard, was also added to the injury report, citing rest. It’s odd for a 25-year-old to need a rest game in early March, but such is the claim. The Raptors also added RJ Barrett for personal reasons and downgraded Ochai Agbaji due to an ankle injury.
Since misery loves company, the Philadelphia 76ers have found the best company in the Toronto Raptors, as both teams have suffered similar injury setbacks this season. As a result of their injury woes, differentiating between these two teams has been as tasking as picking between bad and poor. The Raptors are 22-43 and trail the 22-42 Sixers by 0.5 games in the Eastern Conference standings.
Having suffered the loss of Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Eric Gordon, and Kyle Lowry to injuries, the Sixers are perfectly complemented by the Raptors, who have also seen the likes of Barrett, Ingram, Walter, Mogbo, Choche and Dick sidelined by injuries. The Sixers also have Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre Jr. listed as questionable ahead of their visit this evening.
Regardless, the lights aren’t necessarily out for the Philadelphia 76ers. With 18 games remaining, the league table could be heavily reshuffled before the curtain is drawn on the regular season.
