The Philadelphia 76ers are home on Wednesday night to take on the Los Angeles Clippers after beating them on Sunday, 121-107, in Los Angeles. While the Sixers went just 1-3 on their four game western road trip, their lone win against the Clippers was a solid victory where the team all played and shot very well, something they’ve not been doing of late. The Clippers are coming off of back-to-back double digit losses to the Sixers and Pacers as they head into Philly and hope to get back into the win column.
76ers game information
Who: Los Angeles Clippers (44-27) at Philadelphia 76ers (39-33)
When: 7:30 pm EST
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia PA
Watch: ESPN, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Bally Sports So Cal
76ers vs Clippers betting information
Spread: 76ers +5.5 | Clippers -5.5
Moneyline: 76ers +180 | Clippers -218
Total: Over/Under 217
Latest on the 76ers
Something has to change for the Sixers as they return home from a 1-3 West Coast road trip where they’ve been absolutely horrible shooting the ball with the exception of the win over the Clippers. On the trip, the Sixers shot 42.9% from the floor and 34.5% on their three-pointers, but if you take out the Clippers game, they shot just 39.6% from the floor and 29.6% from deep in the three losses. If the team is going to have any chance of avoiding the play-in tournament and gaining some momentum for the playoffs, they’re going to need many more nights like the Clippers game.
While Tyrese Maxey is one of the top young stars in the game today, he can’t be expected to carry the Sixers into and through the playoffs. The team was assembled to succeed around the otherworldly talents of Joel Embiid and without him they’re nothing more than a lottery team. What was once looked upon as a true contending team, early in the season, has fallen so far with Embiids loss.
Despite all of Maxey’s talent, there’s nothing the team can do if they continue to let Tobias Harris and Nico Batum hold onto their starting roles. Batum, while a great “team” guy who is always touted for doing the “little” things, scored eight total points in the three games he played on the road trip. The game he missed was the Clippers game, which they won. Buddy Hield has been inconsistent, Kelly Oubre Jr. is trying his hardest and helping most nights, and even Kyle Lowry, at 38 years old, is contributing.
Then you have Harris and his play of late. When he shows up as “questionable” on the injury report it’s not so much of a physical thing as that the team more than likely has no idea what they’ll be getting that game from him.
Over the last ten games, he’s averaged 14.4 points and 7.7 rebounds, but he’s shooting just 41.2% from the floor and 18.5% on his three-pointers. (You read that correctly, it’s 18.5%) For every game of 24 points on 11-19 shooting he has, like against the Clippers, they’re surrounded by nights of 5-15 or 6-18 shooting, like against the Lakers and Suns, where he also shot just 1-8 from beyond the arc. It’s been too long and too much to keep harping on Harris, but he’s not helped the team one bit this season, and it’s getting worse when they’ve needed him the most.
Latest on the Clippers
The Clippers have lost two straight to the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers and are just 4-6 in their last ten games. While that doesn’t seem too bad, the wins have come over teams like the Hawks, Bulls, and Trail Blazers (twice), so it’s not as impressive as one might think. They’re going to need to get themselves in order if they’re going to finish strong and make any sort of noise in the playoffs.
While much has been made of the Sixers beating the Clippers on Sunday, the Clippers didn’t play, nor did they shoot poorly. Overall, the Sixers just happened to have many hot hands on the floor. Despite all of the coverage of the Sixers beating James Harden and the Clippers, it’s not Harden’s team. The team is led by Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and there’s no mistaking that. Harden, at this point in his career, is a hired hand.
In addition to Leonard and George, with the 46 combined points they provide, the Clippers can rely on Harden and his 17.1 points, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac who also are averaging more than ten points per game. They’ve also welcomed back Russel Westbrook who missed time with a fractured hand.
Westbrook isn’t the same player he was a few years ago but he’s accepted coming off the bench and in his limited 22 minutes per game, he’s still averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He’s going to create problems when he comes off the bench as the Clippers head toward the playoffs.
What to watch for tonight
Harden back in Philly will always be interesting given how he left the team at the start of the season, but he’s going to be hyped up for the matchup as the Clippers have lost their last two games, and the Sixers embarrassed them at home in Los Angeles. Look for Harden to try to step back into 2017 and have one of those “I’ll show you” types of games.
Philadelphia will need Maxey to continue his recent shooting success, put the team on his back, and carry them to their 40th victory of the season. With Kelly Oubre Jr. listed as questionable, the Sixers will be putting out a starting lineup with Mo Bamba, Nico Batum, Tobias Harris, Maxey, and Kyle Lowry, which doesn’t equal many points. Bamba and Batum will combine, usually, for about 6 points a game and that combination isn’t going to get your team very far in the league.
The Sixers will also need every bit of the spark Cam Payne has been providing off the bench, a big game from Mr. Questionable Tobias Harris, as well as Lowry and Hield to dial back the clock. If they don’t get out to a strong start, it’s going to be a long night for them.
Prediction
Philadelphia 76ers 123 – Los Angeles Clippers 117
