The Sixers are back from training camp in the Bahamas and set to take on the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
Sixers basketball is back!
(Sort of.)
The team will begin it’s slate of preseason games Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center against the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL.
The Sixers spent the past week in the Bahamas for training camp. We have little indication of who will play who won will not. It seems highly unlikely that Joel Embiid will suit up. The 2022-23 MVP didn’t scrimmage during camp and the team has been open about its desire to bring him along smartly and slowly. Veterans Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon also did not scrimmage. When Paul George, the team’s big free-agent acquisition, spoke on Friday, it didn’t sound like he’d make his Philly debut Monday.
While it’s a bit disappointing that those four likely won’t play, there will still be plenty of intrigue with the Sixers’ lineup. We could see All-Star Tyrese Maxey along with fellow starters Kelly Oubre, Jr. and Caleb Martin. Andre Drummond will likely start in place of Embiid, which would mean intriguing rookie Adem Bona would also see action.
There will definitely be competition for rotation spots amongst returning players Ricky Council IV and KJ Martin and French forward Guerschon Yabusele. This will be that trio’s first chance to possibly separate themselves from the pack. Rookie first-rounder Jared McCain, who turned heads in camp, is also likely to see significant action.
The Breakers are on an American tour, taking on three NBA teams. They lost to the Jazz in Utah Saturday night. After their game against the Sixers, they’ll head to Oklahoma for a game against the Thunder Friday. A fun nugget for tonight’s game: the Breakers signed 7-foot-6 former NBA center Tacko Fall for their time in the states.
We won’t be able to glean much from this one, but it’ll just be nice to watch Sixers basketball.
Game Details
Who: New Zealand Breakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
When: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers