The second and final bid in the Eastern Conference finals will be decided north of the border on Sunday when the 76ers and Raptors face off in a win-or-go-home Game 7.
Philadelphia won a crucial Game 6 on Thursday to force one more contest in a series that has see-sawed since it began.
Kawhi Leonard has been far and away the best player for either team over the last six games. He is averaging 33.7 points in the series and scored at least 33 in the first four contests. Most Improved Player candidate Pascal Siakam has emerged as a viable second option for Toronto, and it looks like Kyle Lowry is heating up (16 PPG in last three games) after a slow start to the postseason.
MORE: Watch 76ers vs. Raptors live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
The 76ers could use a lift from their two All-Stars — Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons — if they want to get by the Raptors. Embiid — who has been hampered by injury — has performed below his season marks in all but one game of the series. Simmons — who averaged nearly 17 PPG during the regular season — has scored more than 10 points just twice in the six games against Toronto.
Scotiabank Arena in Toronto will host Sunday's game, which will determine who faces the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals.
What time does Raptors vs. 76ers start?
Game 7 is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET tipoff. It will start after Trail Blazers vs. Nuggets, which begins at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Raptors vs. 76ers: TV channel, live stream
TNT will have the national broadcast for the contest. You can also stream the game with Watch TNT or fuboTV.
Betting line, odds for Raptors vs. 76ers
The home team Raptors are rather sizable 6-point favorites, with the over/under set at 209 points. Looking ahead, Toronto has 10/1 odds of winning the NBA title, while the 76ers are at 40/1, tied with the Trail Blazers for the worst odds of any team remaining in the postseason.
Raptors by the numbers
- Offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions): 113.1 (5th)
- Defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions): 107.1 (5th)
- Pace: 100.2 (15th)
- Points per game: 114.4 (8th)
- Points allowed per game: 108.4 (9th)
- Leading scorer: Kawhi Leonard, 26.6 PPG (50/37/85 FG/3P/FT%)
- Leading rebounder: Serge Ibaka, 8.1 RPG (2.1 ORPG)
- Assists leader: Kyle Lowry, 8.7 APG
- 2018-19 All-Stars: Leonard, Lowry
76ers by the numbers
- Offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions): 112.6 (8th)
- Defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions): 110 (15th)
- Pace: 101.6 (8th)
- Points per game: 115.2 (4th)
- Points allowed per game: 112.5 (19th)
- Leading scorer: Joel Embiid, 27.5 PPG (48/30/80 FG/3P/FT%)
- Leading rebounder: Embiid, 13.6 RPG (2.5 ORPG)
- Assists leader: Ben Simmons, 7.7 APG
- 2018-19 All-Stars: Embiid, Simmons
When was the Raptors' last conference finals appearance?
Toronto's most recent — and only — trip to the Eastern Conference finals came in 2016 when it lost in six games to LeBron James and the eventual NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite their lack of deep playoff success, the Raptors are making their fourth straight conference semifinals appearance.
When was the 76ers' last conference finals appearance?
The 76ers are searching for their first trip to the conference finals since 2001, when Allen Iverson led them all the way to the NBA Finals. Ironically enough, Philadelphia beat Toronto in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals that year. Could we see a repeat in 2019?