The Sixers have now lost nine straight games, and it won’t be surprising to see that extend to 10 as they take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
Six games. That’s all that stands between us and an offseason break from the slog of these Sixers games. And an anxious wait ahead of the NBA draft lottery… but we’ll get to that soon enough and can focus on the odds in the meantime.
For now, the next opponent for the Sixers on Thursday is the Bucks, sitting at 41-34 and sixth place in the East. As they’re still fighting for the potential to move up to the fourth seed, they should have all the motivation they need to beat a tanking Sixers squad — the owners of the longest active losing streak in the league at nine games.
Philly’s injury report is just as lengthy as you’ll have grown used to by now. Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Eric Gordon, Kyle Lowry, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Andre Drummond all remain out. Guerschon Yabusele is questionable with a right knee sprain.
The big name on the injury report for the Bucks is the continued absence of Damian Lillard, who has deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. He’s been out since Mar. 20 and remains out indefinitely. Jericho Sims is also out after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, as is Bobby Portis due to his suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, leaving Milwaukee’s frontcourt limited. Giannis Antetokounmpo (left foot sprain) is probable and AJ Green (right AC joint sprain) is questionable.
The Bucks enter this game in a bit of a slump, having lost nine of their last 14 games. Their offense has been bang average in this stretch at 14th, which is underwhelming even with the absence for Lillard for some of the time, and their defense has slipped to 19th in this time.
Despite being somewhat underwhelming lately, though, it doesn’t exactly matter too much for Thursday’s contest when the Bucks are clearly still well ahead of these Sixers. With Antetokounmpo alone — having a characteristically monster season at 30.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game with a 62.3 true shooting percentage — they should be able to handle these tanking Sixers to secure the win. The Sixers have managed to keep improving their lottery odds against losing teams, so upping those lottery chances even further on Thursday against a team fighting for the best playoff seed it can get should be a given.
The frontcourt matchups may be the most interesting thing to watch in this one. Adem Bona has picked up some nice possessions guarding Giannis already earlier in the season, showing off his lateral quickness, strength, and quick-fire leaping and reach to contest around the rim. Seeing how the rookie, who’s continued to improve as the year’s gone on, fares on Thursday when guarding Giannis’s drives and matching up against the physicality of Brook Lopez will be intriguing.
Throw in Kyle Kuzma along with the Bucks’ two main bigs, and there’s a lot of size and skill for Bona and Yabusele, if available, to handle.
All that said, the focus really remains on where another loss would leave the Sixers’ lottery odds. Here’s your standard Tankathon check-in ahead of the game, as the Sixers have just edged past the Nets, who’ve now won their last two games:
If we get some good performances from the Sixers’ young guys and what should be another loss against a superior and motivated Bucks team, Thursday night should deliver for what Philly and their fans need right now.
Game Details
When: Thursday, April 3, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: The Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers