Best lineup strategy for 76ers vs. Raptors NBA Showdown

The Philadelphia 76ers sit atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 20-10 record and face the struggling Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Joel Embiid is coming off a monster game and will be up against a frontcourt with no answer for his physicality and skill. The hosts could also be without their floor general, so role players could have to step up in a big way to give the Raptors a chance. We’ll go over how you could attack Showdown contests centered around the matchup on DraftKings.

76ers vs. Raptors, 7:00 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass

Captain’s Pick

Embiid ($16,800) is unguardable, just like he says, and he has a good chance to abuse Toronto’s frontcourt after dropping 50 points in his last game. Aron Baynes is the most physical big the Raptors have, but he hardly cracks 20 minutes per game as a starter. Chris Boucher is an exceptional shot blocker but gives up nearly 80 pounds to Embiid and is begging to get bullied on the block. You could make an argument for other options if Embiid was more expensive, but this is a dream matchup for one of the most dominant post scorers in the game.

FLEX Plays

Norman Powell ($7,400) has scored at least 20 points in seven of his last 10 games and has injected a ton of energy into the Raptors’ starting lineup. Toronto could need him more than usual on Sunday, as Kyle Lowry is doubtful to play because of a thumb sprain. Powell is averaging 22.6 points per game on 54-50-93 shooting splits in February. You won’t find any other flex option that efficient.

Fred VanVleet ($9,000) will take on a large chunk of the ball-handling duties if Lowry is ruled out and is neck and neck with Pascal Siakam ($8,600) in fantasy point production. You can fit both players in the flex with ease without breaking the bak, and they’ll likely be among the leaders in minutes.

Fades

Yuta Watanabe ($1,000) is still a part of the Raptors’ rotation but has taken just four shots in his last five games. He hasn’t scored in five games and tallied less than three rebounds in four games during that span. The 76ers’ length strength in the post doesn’t bode well for Watanabe, so looking elsewhere for cheap options is best.

The Outcome

The 76ers are only 3.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, but the Eastern Conference's best team has a clear advantage if the Raptors don’t have their leader. The disparity between the two frontcourts is significant, so having an edge when it comes to guard play makes backing Philadelphia seem like the obvious choice.

Final score: 76ers win 117-108