The Philadelphia 76ers are back on their home turf for the first time in two weeks to host the Phoenix Suns, riding a four-game losing streak, at the Wells Fargo Center on Monday night.
The Philadelphia 76ers are finally back home after what has been a long few weeks on the road for the squad. The Sixers went 4-2 on the road trip, including highs of defeating the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day and lows of falling to the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors back-to-back. The team fortunately capped off the slog with a confidence-boosting, crushing win over the Brooklyn Nets this past Saturday
Now, they’re back home at the Wells Fargo Center to host the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. The last time these two teams met, the Sixers were headed toward a victory before going ice cold to close out the game and allowing the Suns to steal the win right out from under them. After leading by seven with about three and a half minutes to play, Philadelphia scored just a single point in the rest of regulation. Phoenix snagged the lead and ultimately the victory with just 24 seconds to play. Important to note, however, that Joel Embiid did not play in that contest.
Speaking of Embiid, the Sixers’ injury report leaves a few questions open for the day on who will be available. Embiid is listed as questionable with a foot sprain as well as a sinus fracture. Kelly Oubre Jr. (hand sprain) and Kyle Lowry (hip soreness) are both questionable as well. KJ Martin (foot) and Jared McCain (knee) are both out. We will keep you posted on the questionable players’ statuses as more information becomes available.
The Suns will be without Royce O’Neal, who is putting up career-highs off the bench for Phoenix this season, averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game and shooting 44.1% from long range on a 5.7 attempts per game clip. He suffered an ankle sprain to close out 2024 and is still awaiting reevaluation for that injury.
They will, however, have their two stars in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. At 36-years-old, Durant is showing no signs of slowing, leading the Suns averaging 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. He is also shooting well from long range, hitting 40.9% of his 5.7 triple attempts per game. Durant is just a constant offensive producer, having been held under 20 points in just two of his 23 games this season, one of which he only played 16 minutes in. Booker is right there behind him averaging 24.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The duo are simply scoring machines that can’t be allowed to run wild.
The big starting trio is typically rounded out by Bradley Beal averaging 17.8 points per game, but a post from NBA insider Chris Haynes late last night reported that Beal as well as Jusuf Nurkic are being removed from the starting lineup against the Sixers because of the players’ struggles, the team’s struggles and locker room tension.
Sources: In midst of 4-game losing streak and tension in locker room, Phoenix expected to make drastic change by removing Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic from starting lineup beginning Monday at Philadelphia. #haynesbriefs pic.twitter.com/utz0FNLppB
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 6, 2025
The tension is fairly understandable. Despite the huge talent in the roster on paper, the Suns have been struggling. The 15-18 squad went 4-9 throughout December, have lost seven of their last eight contests and are coming to Philadelphia on a four-game losing streak.
The Sixers will look to capitalize on a team in distress (that isn’t them for once) and try to start a win streak of their own when Philadelphia and Phoenix tip off at 7 p.m. ET Monday night.
Game Details
Who: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Phoenix Suns
When: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers