UPDATE 5:20 p.m. ET

RJ Barrett (shoulder) and Immanuel Quickley (pelvis) are both out for the Toronto Raptors ahead of Friday’s game against the Sixers.

The Philadelphia 76ers hit the road for the first time this season on Friday night when they take on the Toronto Raptors. Both teams want to get their first win of the new season.

The Sixers will continue to be without Joel Embiid (knee injury treatment) and Paul George (bruised bone, left knee) as they continue to make “progress,” coach Nick Nurse said at practice Thursday. Trust in progress?

The Sixers are otherwise healthy. The only other teammate listed on the injury report is Caleb Martin, who is listed as unlikely to play because of a right calf bruise.

But even without Embiid and George, this team should be a lot more competitive than the undermanned Sixers, who tried to keep up with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this week. In fact, Philadelphia is the case at the time of writing 4.5-point favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook via Toronto for Friday evening.

The Raptors are a young team still trying to find their footing as the franchise continues its downward slide following the franchise’s championship in 2019. They finished 25-57 last season and haven’t made any really eye-catching player additions since then. In fact, they gave up a large part of last year’s team in Pascal Siakam. Siakam was traded to the Indiana Pacers over the summer after averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game for the Raptors last season.

With Siakam gone, the Raptors are relying heavily on the trio of RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, along with their young supporting cast, to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility of keeping the team afloat. Last season for Toronto, Barrett averaged 21.8 points in 32 games played, Barnes averaged 19.9 points and earned an All-Star nomination, and Quickley averaged 18.6 points in 38 games played.

The problem for Toronto, especially on Friday, is that they may be missing two crucial pieces of their trio (Join the club, Raptors!). As of Friday morning, both Barrett (shoulder) and Quickley (pelvis) are doubtful to play against the Sixers.

But even with both playing, this Raptors team is mediocre at best and is in for a real rebuild. If the Sixers want to get a win despite being shorthanded this opening week, this is their best opportunity.

However, the Sixers have their own issues, even ignoring Embiid and George’s situations. Philadelphia shot just 41.8% from the field (41-for-98) and 25.8% from three-point range (8-for-31) against the Bucks on Wednesday night. Even beating a struggling team like the Raptors becomes infinitely more difficult when they only sink about four out of 10 field goal attempts. Hopefully, a more generous defense than the Bucks’ can help the Sixers get their shooting efficiency on track and get better going offensively on Friday night.

The Sixers and Raptors kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Game details

WHO: Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors

When: 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

Regard: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Consequences: @LibertyBallers