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76ers-Raptors Preview

Feb 10, 2010 - 4:30 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Philadelphia (19-31) at Toronto (28-23), 7:00 p.m. EDT

No matter who's in town, the Toronto Raptors continue to win at home. The suddenly surging Philadelphia 76ers, however, might have a good chance to change that.

The Raptors look to extend their season-high home winning streak to eight games Wednesday night while trying for a third consecutive victory over the 76ers, who have won five in a row.

Winners of consecutive games overall, Toronto (28-23) is one victory shy of tying the franchise mark for wins prior to All-Star weekend. The Raptors went 29-21 before the break in 2001-02 and 29-24 in 2006-07.

Toronto's play at home has been a big reason for the team's first-half success. The Raptors are 19-6 at Air Canada Centre - one more win than they had there all of 2008-09 - and they're trying for their first eight-game home winning streak since Jan. 24-Feb. 14, 2006.

The Raptors have won 13 of 14 at home, the most recent being a 115-104 victory over lowly Sacramento on Sunday. Toronto is averaging 106.6 points while shooting 50.3 percent during its last 14 home games.

Though Toronto has wins over struggling road teams like New Jersey, Milwaukee and the Kings during that span, it's also defeated perennial powers like San Antonio, Dallas, Miami and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Chris Bosh had 36 points with 11 rebounds and Andrea Bargnani added 22 as the Raptors overcame a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Kings. Bosh is averaging career highs with 24.4 points with 11.4 rebounds this season, and he's averaged 28.0 points with 13.8 boards in his last six contests.

"I've never seen him play like this," teammate Jarrett Jack said. "He's almost dominant. The other team is really at his mercy. He just puts it to them, night in and night out."

Bosh, averaging 21.3 points in 25 career games against the 76ers, had 29 and converted the go-ahead three-point play with 8.4 seconds left to give Toronto a 108-106 win at Philadelphia on Jan. 8.

After Hedo Turkoglu and DeMar DeRozan returned from injuries Sunday, forward Reggie Evans could make his Toronto debut against his former team after being sidelined with a sprained foot. Evans spent the last two seasons with Philadelphia before being traded to the Raptors for Jason Kapono in June.

Toronto might need whatever minutes it can get from Evans to help try and cool off Philadelphia (20-31), which is in the midst of its longest winning streak since taking seven straight from Jan. 6-17, 2009.

Without All-Star Allen Iverson for a fourth straight game, the 76ers still rolled to a 119-97 home win over Minnesota on Tuesday. Tending to his sick daughter, Iverson won't return until after the All-Star break.

The 76ers haven't missed him, averaging 107.0 points and shooting 51.7 percent in their last four games. Andre Iguodala scored 24 points and Elton Brand added 21 as Philadelphia shot 57.5 percent and scored a season-high 73 first-half points against the Timberwolves.

"I am happy we have got a little bit of a wave, but I am not going to be really happy until we get to .500," 76ers coach Eddie Jordan said. "That is the mindset we need."

Iguodala had 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists last month against Toronto.

Though Philadelphia is 11-15 on the road, it's won a season-high three straight and eight of 11 away from home. The 76ers have lost three of four at Toronto.