Sixers Set to Take On Struggling Wizards

Tobias Harris
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 01: Philadelphia 76ers Forward Tobias Harris (12) looks on during a NBA game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Clippers on March 1, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

On Tuesday night, the Wizards are heading into Philadelphia to take on the Sixers, playing their second game in two nights after a 112-98 loss to the Bucks. Washington has lost their last six, with their last win coming January 17th against the Sixers. After that, they’ve lost six in a row while the Sixers have won six of seven and five straight. That includes a huge 122-119 win over the Grizzlies on Monday night that saw the team play without star center and MVP candidate Joel Embiid.

For the Sixers

Lately, everything has been going the Sixers’ way. They’ve won five straight games. Joel Embiid, despite missing Monday’s game against the Grizzlies, has continued to show why he may just be the most impossible to stop superstar in the league right now. Embiid is averaging 29.1 points per game, good for second in the league behind Kevin Durant. Add to that his 10.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists, and it’s easy to see how Embiid has been dominating everyone on the court this season.

Tobias Harris is averaging 18.7 points to go along with 7.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists. While everyone has been giving Harris a hard time this season because his shooting has been down, Harris has had a huge start to the new year and is starting to look more like the Harris that we’ve seen the past couple of years in Philly. The key for the Sixers is emerging star Tyrese Maxey.

Recently added to the All-Star weekend festivities in the future stars game, Maxey has been everything that the Flyers expected Ben Simmons to be. He was thrown into the starting point guard position and is averaging 16.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. While those secondary numbers are slightly under what Simmons was giving, Maxey is on a different level. He’s shooting 40.1% from three-point land and 86% from the free-throw line.

These are numbers that no one would imagine from Simmons. Maxey, against the Grizzlies, with Embiid on the bench, put up a stat line of 33/3/8 to go along with four blocked shots and a huge bucket that sealed the win against the Grizzlies as time expired. Maxey is a surefire star in the making and will look to improve on what’s already been an amazing year for him.

For the Wizards

Star guard Bradley Beal (out for tonight’s game) is averaging 23.2 points and 4.7 rebounds, while Kyle Kuzma is putting up 16 points and 2.9 assists per game. The issue isn’t that they’re not trying; it’s more so a matter of the Wizards not having the players to keep up with the Sixers, despite their last victory over them. Since then, the Wizards have taken a fall, losing six straight and dropping to 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Whether it’s Montrezl Harrell or Daniel Gafford that starts the game at center for the Wizards, they’re going to have their hands full with Embiid.

The Wizards, who have put together some good games this season, seem to have fallen off completely in the past two weeks. Combine that with what seems to be an unending spiral of rumors surrounding Beal and Kuzma being available at the trade deadline in the next week, the team is having a hard time putting together quality games.

Embiid and Maxey seem to have developed the relationship that everyone hoped Embiid would have with Simmons. They push each other and are constantly working to improve and show out during games. Embiid has pushed Maxey on his point guard skills, and Maxey has increased his assists totals of late while Maxey has joked to Embiid about his scoring and then saw Embiid put up 50 points and a couple of 40+ point games. Embiid finally has someone who can open the floor up for him and the rest of the team, and it’s shown. The Sixers are currently 1/2 game behind the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Bulls and look to win their sixth straight at home tonight.

Score Prediction: Sixers – 115 | Wizards – 96