PHILADELPHIA – Joel Embiid was asked Thursday morning what the 76ers have learned about themselves through the first 12 games.

“We got a long way to go,” the center responded. “Obviously, offensively and defensively, we’re not where we want to be. But, you know, a pretty good start; I think it’s pretty exciting that we all feel like we’re not even close to doing what we should be doing. We just got to keep getting better.”

The Sixers are ranked 24th out of the NBA’s 30 teams in scoring at 110.2 points per game. They are also 24th in field-goal shooting (44.0%), 20th in assists (25.7) and 22nd in both offensive rating (109.8) and three-point shooting (33.7%).

Yet the Sixers head into Thursday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors with the Eastern Conference’s second-best record at 9-3. They’re looking to erase memories of Tuesday’s 123-101 setback to the Boston Celtics as they face the Raptors (5-6) in the second of three straight games at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

The Raptors have lost two straight and five of their last seven games. They’ll be without their best two players, Kawhi Leonard (managing a left knee injury) and Scottie Barnes (left groin strain), as well as Bate Bittle (right foot avulsion fracture) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness).

The Sixers are giving LeBron James the night off to manage low back/sciatica issues. Adem Bona (cervical spine sprain) and Dom Barlow (low back stress reaction) will remain sidelined.

Meanwhile, Embiid remains listed as questionable as he manages a right foot plantar fascia injury.

His media availability after Thursday morning’s shooting is a good sign he may be available to play. And he’s not taking the undermanned Raptors lightly.

They are a “physical team. Tough game, obviously,” Embiid said. “Having played them over the years, that’s what they play at. So we just got to be ready.”

The Sixers defeated Toronto, 115-102, on Jan. 12 in what was the squads’ last series meeting. Before then, the Raptors had won six of seven contests between the Atlantic Division foes.

Embiid believes playing hard and competing will help the Sixers reach this season’s goals.

“And I also put it on myself,” said the seven-time All-Star, who is shooting 37.0% from the field, including 12.1% on three-pointers. “I just go to be better.”

But as the team’s offensive ranking suggests, the struggles have been a collective problem. The half-court offense has been a major disappointment because it sometimes leans heavily on iso-ball.

“We got a long way to go, but I think everything – it all boils down to shot-making,” Embiid said. “I think, you know, I’ve said it so many times, it feels crowded. But I think it’s also because I have to make shots. So yeah, I put it on me.”