Toronto Raptors vs. Sixers at a glance

Toronto Raptors vs. 76ers at a Glance

TEAMS: Raptors (17-7) vs. Sixers (6-18)

WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE:  Wells Fargo Center

BROADCASTS: TV – CSN RADIO – 97.5 FM

SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE:  TWITTER – @PompeyOnSixers, INSTAGRAM – PompeyOnSixers

411 ON RAPTORS:  Toronto ranks first in the NBA in three-point percentage at 40.1. Not bad for a team that ranked last in that category through their first six games of the season. But the Raptors have been shooting a scorching 44.2 percent on three-pointers since Nov. 9. The closest competitors during this stretch have been the Cleveland Cavaliers (41.9) and Golden State Warriors (40.0).  Toronto has also scored 100 or more points in their last 11 consecutive games.

The Raptors are paced by two-time NBA all-star DeMar DeRozan. The shooting guard ranks fourth in the league in scoring at 27.9 points per game. He has scored 30 or more points in 12 of the Raptors' 24 games.  The most recent time doing that was in Monday night's 122-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. DeRozan finished with 30 points while making all 15 of his foul shots.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Raptors (17-7)

5 DeMarre Carroll F 6-8 10.3 ppg. 3.6 rpg.

43 Pascal Siakam PF 6-10 5.7 ppg 3.7 rpg.

17 Jonas Valanciunas C 7-0 12.1 ppg. 9.6 rpg.

10 DeMar DeRozan G 6-7  27.9 ppg. 4.2 apg.

7 Kyle Lowry  G 6-1  21.2 ppg. 7.3 apg.

Coach: Dwane Casey (eighth season, 227-191)

Injury report:  Jared Sullinger (left foot surgery, out), Deion Wright (right shoulder surgery, out).

SIXERS (6-18)

33 Robert Covington G/F 6-9  8.8 ppg. 1.9 spg.

7 Ersan Ilyasova PF 6-10 13.0 ppg. 6.3 rpg.

21 Joel Embiid C 7-2 18.2 ppg. 2.5 bpg.

12 Gerald Henderson G 6-5  9.3 ppg. 2.7 rpg.

14 Sergio Rodriguez PG 6-3 8.7 ppg. 6.7 apg.

Coach: Brett Brown (Fourth season, 53-217)

Injury report: Ben Simmons (right foot fracture, out), Nerlens Noel (sprained left ankle, questionable), Jerryd Bayless, (sore left wrist, out).

THE SERIES

The Raptors own a 46-35 series advantage. They have won the last 13 meetings.

LAST SERIES MEETING:  The Sixers were doomed by an inability to stop Lowry, a former Villanova standout along with Valanciunas and Terrence Ross in a 122-95, at Air Canada Centre on Nov. 28.

Lowry finished with 24 points on 7-for-9 shooting to go with eight assists and four rebounds. The former Cardinal Dougherty star and North Philly native made all six of his three-point attempts. He became the first Raptor to go 6 for 6 in threes. Sixteen of his points came in the first half where made four threes.

Lowry's shooting opened things up for Valanciunas.

The 7-footer finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks, and a steal before leaving the game in third quarter to get his ankle retaped. With the game of out control, he did not have to return. Ross, a reserve swingman, added 22 points.

Covington paced the Sixers with 20 points while making a season-high six threes. Jahlil Okafor finished with 15 points starting in place of Embiid at center. Embiid missed his sixth game to rest his right foot.

UPCOMING GAMES

Friday: 8 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sixers

Sunday: 6 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Brooklyn Nets vs. Sixers

Tuesday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, New Orleans Pelican vs. Sixers

Dec 23: 9 p.m., at Talking Stick Arena, Sixers vs. Phoenix Suns

Dec. 26: 10:30 p.m., at Golden 1 Center, Sixers vs. Sacramento Kings

Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.