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Sixers-Raptors Preview: Real Friends

Not only did Kanye West drop 1.25 quality new songs yesterday, but the Philadelphia 76ers may be able to steal a victory from a Toronto Raptors team on the second half of a back-to-back. Life is G.O.O.D.

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You probably won't see these two guys matched up all that much tonight.
You probably won't see these two guys matched up all that much tonight.
Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

If you're watching tonight's game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors, you're one of the Sixers' "Real Friends".

After all, not only did the NFL postseason kick off today, but "Making a Murderer" is burning a hole Netflix queues all around the world (you should watch it because it's great). So we would understand if you took a pass on the game. But we think you should watch because...

Ish Smith: Ishmael Larry Smith joined the Sixers just after Christmas, and he's already the odds-on favorite to be named the team's MVP at season's end. Smith, who has averaged 14.3 PPG and 8.0 RPG so far during his second stint with the Sixers, will have his hands full tonight with Kyle Lowry (whose BFF Justin Bieber just left him for Chris Paul).

Nerlens Noel/Jahlil Okafor: Brett Brown is trying his hardest to make this thing work, but when the Sixers face a team like the Raptors who boast a solid stretch 4 (Luis Scola), there will be blood. When these two teams met about a month ago, Scola finished with a season-high 22 points in a 96-76 Raptors victory.

Robert Covington: RoCo has scored 10 points or more just once in his past 11 games. Is tonight the night when he breaks out of his slump. This season, Toronto is allowing opponents to shoot 37.1 percent from beyond the arc (5th worst in the NBA).

BTW, if you're going to the game tonight, be sure to bring a new or gently used coat or blanket down to the WELLS FARGO CENTER, and you'll receive two free tickets to a select game later this season. I know that's not much of an incentive, but do it for the kids.

Can the Sixers snap Toronto's two-game winning streak? For that answer and more, check out our friends over at Raptors HQ for their perspective on the game.

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