The Philadelphia 76ers are back home on Saturday night, hosting the Charlotte Hornets after losses to the Knicks and Bucks earlier in the week. The return of All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey from a concussion couldn’t get the Sixers over the hurdles they faced without Joel Embiid, as they were blown out by the Knicks and then lost by eight points to the Bucks. The Hornets lost on Friday, at home, to the Phoenix Suns and are 2-8 over their last ten games, with not much looking better for the team in the near future.
Sixers game information
Who: Charlotte Hornets (17-50) at Philadelphia 76ers (36-30)
When: 7:00 pm EST
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBA League Pass, Bally Sports Southeast
Sixers vs. Hornets: Betting information
Moneyline: Sixers -550| Hornets +410
Spread: Sixers -10.5| Hornets +10.5
Total: Over/Under 208.5
Latest on the Sixers
Tyrese Maxey had a return game against the Knicks, where he played just 28 minutes and looked a bit rusty. As the team went into Milwaukee to face the Bucks, Maxey was back to his old self again. Against the Bucks, he shot 52.2% from the field, including 55.6% on his three-point attempts, as he finished the game with 30 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 37 minutes. Maxey has been a stud all season and delisted missing Joel Embiid; he has tried everything to lead the team and have them be successful.
What the Sixers haven’t been able to get, especially lately, is any sort of consistent play from the rest of the team. Buddy Hield has been up and down with his shooting, even after a move to the bench. Paul Reed has a few good games and then seems to disappear. Kelly Oubre Jr. has been in a shooting slump of late, although he keeps taking them and has been the most consistent player of the group lately.
Then there’s Tobias Harris, who seems to be everyone’s favorite target after each Sixers loss. Harris, while he was never going to be able to live up to the huge contract the team gave him, doesn’t seem to be living up to the league minimum of late. He’s followed poor games with more poor games. What then happens is a poor game to start, finished with a flurry of points, like against the Bucks, so that he finished with 15 points. Against the Hornets, one of the worst teams in the league, this is usually the time he breaks out for 25+ points and not when the Sixers need it most against the superior competition they’ve faced.
Latest on the Hornets
The Hornets have been fighting, but it’s been a losing battle all season. Injuries, most notably have hurt them, LaMelo Ball, who’s been out with an ankle injury and isn’t scheduled to return until later this month, far too late to help the Hornets this season. Seth Curry is injured as well as Cody Martin, as both players are slated to be back later this month. Young center Mark Williams suffered a back injury and isn’t expected back this season. Then, at the trade deadline, the Hornets dealt away two of their top scorers, Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward.
The injuries have left the team in the hands of Miles Bridges, rookie Brandon Miller, and recently acquired Grant Williams, which is not ideal for any team at all. While they’re all good players, there’s nothing that they’re able to do consistently to help the team win as they’ve been so depleted, there is no hope.
Tonight, after losing to the Suns at home on Friday, they’ll be a tired team that also traveled to Philadelphia, so it doesn’t look like it’s going to be any better in the city of brotherly love. The best the Hornets can hope for is experience and some fight as the team closes out its season and starts to prepare for next year.
What to watch for tonight
The Sixers lineup with Maxey back on the court should have an easy time with the Hornets, but nothing is guaranteed in the league. The way the team has played of late, you’re never sure of what product is going to be on the court. Will we see Maxey score 35 points and help make the rest of the squad around him a better and more successful one tonight? Will Tobias Harris have his expected “bounce back” game against one of the worst teams in the league? Will Kelly Oubre Jr. and Buddy Hield continue their erratic shooting? There are just too many questions surrounding this Sixers team without Joel Embiid.
The Sixers squad was assembled with the idea of putting quality shooters and defenders around Joel Embiid as they originally hoped to be in contention for the NBA title this season. When Embiid went down with a knee injury, every deficiency that the team has was exposed. While Maxey is a young star in the game, there’s only so much the guard can do.
This Sixers team was made to succeed with Embiid and head coach Nick Nurse, without whom they wouldn’t be in the position they’re in now. Nurse is constantly trying to find ways to use the players to the best of their ability in a good rotation that gives them the best chance to win each night.
Against the Hornets, there shouldn’t really be any problems and the Sixers should be able to get another win as Maxey will surely have a good game, Oubre Jr. can be counted on the chip in between 15-20 points, while Hield and Cam Payne should be able to produce off the bench. What we all expect from Harris is 20+ points and to look like an All-star but if we can count on Harris to do one thing consistently, it’s to be inconsistent.
Prediction
Sixers 117 – Hornets 104
