Sixers open season in Toronto

-Courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers will tip off the 2007-08 campaign on Wednesday, Oct. 31, in Toronto against the Raptors (7 p.m.), with the Sixers first home game scheduled for Saturday night, Nov. 3, versus the New Jersey Nets (7 p.m.), the team's third game of the season. It marks the first time the Sixers have had a home-opener on a Saturday night since the 1998-99 season.

The 76ers longest road trip of the season falls between Friday, Dec. 28 and Sunday, Jan. 6, as the Sixers travel to the West Coast for a six-game swing that concludes at Denver (Jan. 6). During their West Coast trip, the Wachovia Center will host Disney on Ice's High School Musical: The Ice Tour from Friday, Dec. 28 through Tuesday, Jan. 1.

The schedule features several family-friendly dates, including seven Saturday home dates and 11 Friday night home dates. Additionally, the Sixers will be at home on Dec. 26 against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, which marks the Sixers' latest home date in December since a Dec. 30, 1978 contest against the Spurs (Disney on Ice became an annual tradition starting in December of 1979).

The Sixers will enjoy a season-long five-game home stand Feb. 5-13 leading up to the NBA All-Star Break. The 2007-08 schedule also includes 22 sets of back-to-back games.

Among the highly anticipated match-ups during the 2007-08 regular season:

* The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Greg Oden and the Portland Trail Blazers will visit Philadelphia on Friday, Nov. 16.
* Philadelphia will welcome Western Conference foes L.A. Lakers (Dec. 21), reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks (Feb. 11), San Antonio Spurs (Mar. 15) and Phoenix Suns (Mar. 28).
* The new-look Boston Celtics - featuring Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce - travel to Philadelphia twice: Wednesday, Dec. 5, and Monday, March 10.
* The Denver Nuggets and former Sixers guard Allen Iverson return to Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 19.
* Forward LeBron James and the defending Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers will play the 76ers in the final home game of the regular season on Monday, April 14.
Each season the Sixers play two Eastern Conference opponents, from outside the Atlantic Division, only three-times. In 2007-08, the Sixers will face the Central Division Cleveland Cavaliers (1 home/2 road) and the Southeast Division Miami Heat (2 home/1 road).