Raptors 122 76ers 95
TORONTO — It’s deja vu for the 76ers.
Just like in previous seasons, life away from the Wells Fargo Center has been full of painful loses. Now they’re close to being, once again, historic.
The short-handed Sixers are one loss away from tying the franchise record for consecutive road losses. They reached 22 straight since Jan. 27 on Monday as they were dominated by the Toronto Raptors, 122-95, loss at Air Canada Centre. The Sixers set the franchise record of 23 straight over two seasons from March 29 to Dec. 23, 2015.
A consecutive road-loss streak isn’t the only skid the Sixers (4-14) failed to snap. Monday also marked their 13th consecutive setback to the Raptors (11-6).
They were doomed by an inability to stop former Villanova standout Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciuas and Terrence Ross.
Lowry finished with 24 points on 7-for-9 shooting to go with eight assists and four rebounds. The former Cardinal Dougherty standout and North Philly native made all six of his 3-point attempts. He became the first Raptor to go 6 for 6 in 3s. Sixteen of his points came in the first half.
Valanciunas 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, the 7-footer did not have to return. Ross, a reserve swingman, added 22 points.
Robert Covington paced the Sixers with 20 points while making a season-high six threes. Jahlil Okafor finished with 15 points starting in place of Joel Embiid at center. Embiid missed his sixth game to rest his right foot.
The Sixers were once again without Jerryd Bayless, who was arguably this summer’s top free-agent acquisition. The point guard missed his second straight game with left wrist soreness. He suffered a torn ligament in September.
Bayless’ status for Wednesday’s home game against the Sacramento Kings is unknown. The ninth-year veteran elected not to have surgery when he initially suffered the injury. As a result, he’s in a lot of pain.
His pain tolerance will be the deciding factor in whether he elects to have season-ending surgery. Bayless missed the trip to receive treatment at the team’s practice facility in Camden.
“He’s a competitive kid,” said Gerald Henderson, the Sixers’ other free-agent addition along with Sergio Rodriguez. “He wants to play. Whatever the status of his wrist is, I know it’s bothering him, contemplating whatever it is he may be contemplating.”
Coach Brett Brown said right now things are fluid. “Personally, I’m a little bit worried,” he said.
Bayless missed the first 13 games of the season after tearing a ligament during training camp in September. He made his Sixers debut on Nov. 21 in a victory over the Miami Heat. Bayless played in the next two games, making his long-awaited start on Friday.
He experienced soreness throughout that game and sat out Saturday’s light practice before missing games Sunday and Monday.
“It’s hard because when we signed, we were here the same day,” said Rodriguez, who finished with 11 points and seven assists while starting in place of Bayless. “We talked about how good we can do. So, you know, we had expectations.”
The team also is without Ben Simmons (foot) and Nerlens Noel (knee), who have yet to play this season.
“We need to step up,” Rodriguez said. “I think we are doing a good job almost competing every game to be our best. But obviously, it’s frustrating for them and for us to see them injured.”
The Sixers were at a huge loss before the boarded a flight here Sunday evening. There were without their leading scorer, rebounder and rim protector in Embiid. The rookie center sat out the second of back-to-back games.
Without him, the team didn’t have anyone to challenge Valanciunas on the boards and defensively. Nor were the Sixers able to stop the Raptors’ 3-point barrage. The team made seven of its first 10 and finished 13 for 19.
Henderson had his worst game as Sixer, failing to score on 0-for-7 shooting.
The Raptors led by as many as 31 points late in the fourth quarter.