We’ll have to wait one more game for Joel Embiid to make his season debut, but first the Sixers welcome the Hornets to town.
The Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Los Angeles Lakers late Friday night, dropping to 1-7 on the season. While it’s been an abysmal start, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, as this will be the final game without Joel Embiid, who is set to return Tuesday against the New York Knicks. Somehow, the team is also only three games behind the third seed in the Eastern Conference — with a chance to start making up ground tonight.
Following the early season trend, the Sixers will be shorthanded yet again. The before-mentioned Embiid won’t be available, and Tyrese Maxey won’t play as he recovers from a hamstring stain. Paul George should be available however he is coming off a “25-30 minute” restriction. It’s unclear if this was just for a couple games or if this will be a common theme moving forward.
There are silver linings to the Sixers’ rough start, particularly with Jared McCain and Guerschon Yabusele. McCain is coming off the best regular season game of his young career, posting 18 points in the Sixers’ loss. Yabusele has been the best “center” for the Sixers early on, outplaying Andre Drummond in nearly every game. While the injury bug kills some early-season excitement, getting these rotational guys big minutes might pay off long-term.
On the Hornets’ side, things seem to be looking up for their rebuild. The team is headlined by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Ball has averaged 28.4 points per game while throwing up 12.4 attempts from three. Miller has often been compared to Paul George as a lengthy forward capable of hitting perimeter shots. Both seem to be finding their groove, coming off some big performances as of late.
Like the Sixers, the Hornets will also be shorthanded. They’ll be without Miles Bridges (bone bruise) and starting center Mark Williams, who is dealing with a foot injury. Without Williams, the Hornets lack quite a bit of size, which means this could be a game where Andre Drummond can shine.
The Hornets certainly have the talent advantage with this game, but it is indeed a winnable game that the Sixers could steal. Even with their big names producing, the Hornets are below average in offensive and defensive rating this year.
Keeping Ball in check will likely make or break the Sixers’ ability stealing a victory here. Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin and Paul George will likely take turns guarding the former All-Star.
Embiid will be back soon, and securing a win before his return would alleviate much of the pressure that has been building due to recent losses. Let’s see if the Sixers can steal this one.
Game Details
Who: Charlotte Hornets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
When: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers