The Philadelphia 76ers are at home on Friday night as they take on the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, looking to end their seven-game losing streak. While the Sixers can’t seem to catch a break, whether in games or with injuries, the Cavaliers have been the top team in the league for the season.
While the Cavs are currently 3-3 over their last six games, they had a 12-game winning streak prior to that, and their schedule over the next few weeks, while filled with teams that have good records, isn’t overwhelming like the run of games the Sixers are currently facing.
Sixers game information
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (36-7) at Philadelphia 76ers (15-27)
When: 7 p.m. EST
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBA League Pass, ESPN 2, Bally Sports Ohio
Latest on the Sixers
The Sixers are, again, going into the game against the Cavaliers much like they have played every game this season, completely undermanned. Joel Embiid is on the tail end of the seven to ten-day window for his evaluation of his knee as they hope for his return to action soon. Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin have been battling hip injuries that have kept them out of the last several games, while Andre Drummond is out tonight with a toe injury he’s been dealing with.
For some positive news, Philly Sports Network’s own Zach Ciavolella reported that KJ Martin is progressing and has begun individual on-court work, though he’s not yet practicing with the team.
Martin, on the season, is only averaging 6.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game but, he had started to get more time on the floor with the starters and reserves, prior to his injury. Martin has developed into a quality rotation piece that the Sixers are sorely missing as he has grown into a quality offensive and defensive player for the team.
For the players that aren’t injured, the team is still being led by guard Tyrese Maxey, who’s been giving his all throughout the year despite the status of the players and team. Maxey is leading the team with 26.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists while adding 2 steals per game. Maxey, who’s been an unbelievable offensive threat for the Sixers over the past two seasons, has stepped up his defensive game this year and is trying to do it all on the court and leading by example.
Latest on the Cavaliers
The Cavs are coming into Philly having just lost a heartbreaker to the Houston Rockets, 109-108, on Wednesday night. Despite being the top team in the league, the Cavaliers have just been 3-3 over their last six games, with their two most recent losses coming at the hands of the Rockets and the OKC Thunder. While that normally wouldn’t seem to be a big issue, this season, the Rockets and Thunder are the two top teams in a stacked Western Conference.
While the Cavs will be without forward Evan Mobley, their third leading scorer at 18.5 points per game, that doesn’t mean they’ll be any less intimidating to the undermanned Sixers. They’re still led by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who are both having great years and leading the team’s resurgence.
Mitchell is averaging 23.5 points along with 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while Garland is putting up 21.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists, combining to be one of the elite backcourts in the league this season. Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Ty Jerome and Georges Niang are all playing well and giving the team depth and talent as they’ve walked through most of the league this year.
What to watch for tonight
The Sixers, despite being shorthanded, will not go down without a fight, unless they’re playing the Nuggets like they did on Tuesday night when they were blown out by 35 points. The team didn’t look like they cared at all, except for two players. That is not a good sign for a team that’s already being beaten down on a regular basis and has battled with having an incomplete roster for 90% of the season.
While Tyrese Maxey and Guerschon Yabusele led the team against the Nuggets, the Sixers will need more from Paul George. George may be having a tougher time this season because he’s weighed down by the $50 million the Sixers are paying him. Eric Gordon has been pleasantly surprising when he returns from injury and has provided the Sixers’ backcourt with some sense of stability.
The Sixers need players like George, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Council IV, Adem Bona, and Justin Edwards to have good games, show a true effort, and contribute as much as they can. While Bona and Edwards are rookies, they’ve been counted on a lot more lately and have shown glimpses of being true NBA players. Council and Oubre Jr. have been here and are expected to contribute when called upon.
The big question is which Paul George will show up against the Cavs and how coach Nick Nurse can game plan for a team that has skill and size. The Cavs are the top offensive team in the league, and that doesn’t look good for a Sixers team that’s missing a few of its better defenders.
Prediction
Cavaliers 131 – Sixers 108
