(Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers will try to halt a four-game losing
streak on Wednesday night when they visit Air Canada Centre to meet the
Toronto Raptors.
The Sixers have dropped seven of their last nine and came home from an eight-
game road trip, where they went 2-6. It was not a welcome return as they fell
to the Brooklyn Nets, 109-89, Tuesday in Philly.
It was a one-point game at the half, then Brooklyn went on an 18-2 run to
start the third quarter. The Nets won the period 35-14 and the game turned
into a laugher by the fourth.
Jrue Holiday led the way for the Sixers with 19 points and eight assists,
although he did commit four turnovers, which is right around his average, the
second-highest in the league.
The Sixers endured the long road trip and play most of their games in January
in the Wells Fargo Center. That didn't mean much on Tuesday as the Sixers
looked and played like they were exhausted.
"As I said yesterday, I thought we were an incredibly tired team," said head
coach Doug Collins. "I think tonight we played that way. No rest for the
weary, we've got to get on a plane and go to Toronto."
The Raptors, who are only two games behind the Sixers to get out of the cellar
in the Atlantic Division, have lost two straight after a brilliant run of
basketball.
Prior to home losses to the Sacramento Kings on Friday and the Oklahoma City
Thunder on Sunday, the Raptors had won eight of nine. Wednesday's game is the
fourth in a six-game homestand.
The Raptors fell to the reigning Western Conference Champion Thunder on
Sunday, 104-92. Down two at the half, the Raptors lost the third quarter by
nine and Oklahoma City held on down the stretch.
Toronto committed 17 turnovers, which led to 23 Thunder points.
"We compete, we fight, we did a lot of good things," guard Jose Calderon said.
"But against this team we cannot make one turnover, you make a mistake you're
going to pay for that. I think every little mistake we made tonight it turned
into a basket or a foul or something."
Alan Anderson had another great night off the bench for the Raptors with 27
points. Amir Johnson had 19 and Calderon finished with 10 points and 11
assists.
The Sixers have taken both of this season's matchups with their fellow
Atlantic Division rival. Philly won 93-83 on Nov. 10 in Toronto, then followed
up 10 days later with a 106-98 victory at home.
The Sports Network