The Philadelphia 76ers will attempt to bounce again from a disappointing begin to their three-game homestand by internet hosting the last-place Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
Philadelphia returned dwelling after a profitable, six-game street swing by which the Sixers gained 4, beginning with the primary three at Boston, Utah and Portland. These three wins mixed with a house defeat of San Antonio and back-to-back victories towards Charlotte had Philadelphia closing out December on a excessive notice.
Because the calendar turned to 2025, nonetheless, the Sixers have dropped three of 4 video games, together with a 109-99 resolution vs. Phoenix in Monday’s homecoming. Tyrese Maxey scored 31 factors and dished 10 assists for his fourth 30-point double-double, all of which he has recorded since Nov. 27.
Philadelphia is 11-7 over that span and attempting to climb into competition for an Jap Convention playoff berth regardless of coping with absences.
Joel Embiid (foot) missed Monday’s matchup with Phoenix, his twenty first missed sport of the season. The 2022-23 NBA Most Worthwhile Participant has performed greater than three consecutive video games on only one event, the 4 straight video games he performed from Dec. 23-30 coinciding with the Sixers’ longest successful streak of the season.
On Monday, Philadelphia additionally was with out veterans Andre Drummond (toe), who has missed 5 of the final seven video games, and Kyle Lowry (hip), who has missed 9 video games since Nov. 20.
In the meantime, six-time All-NBA ahead Paul George has performed in all 14 video games since lacking 10 of the season’s first 20, however is scoring simply 16.2 factors per sport.
“It is troublesome, man. He got here into the season feeling fairly good so far as coaching camp; sort of discovered a move. You then get damage. That is troublesome,” Maxey mentioned of George’s offensive struggles. “He is by no means performed with the Sixers, so he is looking for his approach. … I perceive the place that is coming from.”
Washington comes into Philadelphia with its personal harm troubles. In Tuesday’s 135-112 blowout loss to Houston, the Wizards had been with out main scorer Jordan Poole (hip) for the fourth time in six video games and Malcolm Brogdon (foot).
Washington additionally has been with out Marvin Bagley III for the ninth time in 10 video games with a knee harm that coach Brian Keefe advised reporters had no timetable for a return.
The Wizards’ loss within the first half of the midweek back-to-back prolonged the season-long woes looming over a workforce with the NBA’s worst report. Washington is on a three-game shedding streak and has dropped 5 of its final six.
Including to the problem of its present stretch, Washington’s first two losses within the present skid got here towards New Orleans, the Western Convention’s cellar dweller. Sunday’s 110-98 setback at dwelling got here with some constructive for the Wizards, nonetheless, with Kyle Kuzma scoring a season-high 28 factors.
Kuzma, who averaged 21.2 and 22.2 factors per sport the earlier two seasons, is scoring simply 15.4 per contest in 2024-25. Worse but for the struggling Washington offense is that Kuzma’s manufacturing is second on the workforce behind Poole’s 21.8 factors per sport.
The Wizards did obtain vital manufacturing on Tuesday from Corey Kispert, nonetheless. The profession 38.3 p.c 3-point shooter got here into the matchup with Houston capturing solely 33.3 p.c this season, however got here off the bench to knock down 5-of-7 from deep and completed with 23 factors.
“For those who’re simply … capturing it, letting it roll, there’s sufficient follow and sufficient reps within the again finish that can assist you belief that,” Kispert advised the Washington Put up of regaining his long-range capturing contact.
–Area Degree Media