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Defensive 76ers tangle with Raptors

Nov 20, 2012 - 3:28 PM (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia 76ers haven't blown the doors off scoring- wise this season, but a stingy defense has them two games over .500.

The 76ers will try to suffocate the Toronto Raptors' offense when the two Atlantic Division foes meet for the second time this season Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center.

Philadelphia has won two in a row and will wrap up a five-game homestand (2-2) this evening. The Sixers ended a two-game slide with Friday's win over Utah, then handed Cleveland an 86-79 setback Sunday behind Evan Turner's 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Spencer Hawes and Jrue Holiday finished with 14 points apiece for Philadelphia, which shot 42.5 percent for the game and held the Cavaliers to 35.7 percent from the floor.

The Sixers, who were second in the NBA in scoring this preseason with 102.7 ppg, are near the bottom with 88.9 ppg this season and have posted 100-plus points only once. However, they are holding opponents to 90.1 ppg, which ranks in the top five.

Nick Young and Jason Richardson scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, in a winning effort. Young left the game with dizziness and is probable tonight.

"I was very proud of our guys. I'm hoping it gets smoother," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "Every game is a grind. We're just not in a great rhythm offensively."

The Sixers have won two straight at home after dropping their previous three at Wells Fargo Center and are 6-0 when leading after three quarters.

Toronto has won two of three games since losing four in a row and will begin a three-game road trip Tuesday against Philadelphia, Charlotte and Detroit.

In a 97-86 win versus the Orlando Magic on Sunday, the Raptors used a big fourth quarter to pull away. They had a 30-17 scoring advantage in the final stanza to win just their second home game of the season and third overall.

DeMar DeRozan scored 20 points, Andrea Bargnani recorded 17 and Jose Calderon finished with a game-high 18 assists for the Raptors, whose 13-2 run late in the game sent the Magic packing.

"I thought that [Calderon] and Andrea played with that bounce and passion," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. "Jose got [Bargnani] going, and our offense goes the way Andrea goes."

Calderon's 18 assists were one shy of a career high set twice previously, and he's now averaged 13.5 assists over the last four games. The Raptors play five of the next six games on the road and are 1-4 as the guest.

Toronto recently suffered a 93-83 home loss to the 76ers on Nov. 10 and has lost five of the past six matchups between the division rivals. The Raptors have enjoyed success lately in south Philly, going 4-2 in the previous six meetings there.