The Brooklyn Nets will begin a road trip on Friday with a visit to Philadelphia, while the 76ers are wrapping up a tough road stretch that hasn’t gone well for the team.
The 76ers are on a five-game losing streak going into their NBA Cup East: Group A game against the Nets. This includes all three losses from their recent three-game road trip, which ended on Wednesday with a 117-111 loss to Memphis.
Despite Joel Embiid’s strong performance, with 35 points and 11 rebounds, the Sixers couldn’t secure the win. This was Embiid’s fourth game since returning from a knee injury that kept him out for the first nine games of the season.
Philadelphia is still searching for their first win with Embiid back, as they have only two wins this season and none in the NBA Cup so far. They lost their opening group games against the New York Knicks (111-99) on Nov. 12 and the Orlando Magic (98-86) on Nov. 15.
The team is now dealing with another injury issue. Paul George left Wednesday’s game with a hyperextended knee.
“Similar to the preseason,” said Sixers coach Nick Nurse, referring to an injury George had in October. “We’ll find out more Thursday when the medical staff checks it to see how bad it is.”
Nurse added that George’s injury might be similar to a bone bruise, which could mean he won’t be out for too long, but they are waiting for more details before Friday’s game.
“You never know what happens,” Nurse said. “He was actually close to returning to the game but it stiffened up, so we decided not to.”
Despite the injuries, rookie Jared McCain is proving to be a bright spot for the team. His 20-point performance on Wednesday marked his sixth consecutive game scoring over 20 points. McCain has also made at least three 3-pointers in all six games and is averaging 25.5 points.
The Nets ended a three-game losing streak on Tuesday, winning 116-115 against the Charlotte Hornets. Cam Johnson led the team with 34 points, and Trendon Watford made a key jumper with 38 seconds left to help the Nets secure the win. Watford had 10 points in 19 minutes in his second game back from a hamstring injury.
“I’m really happy for him, but this is what being a team is all about,” said Nets coach Jordi Fernandez. “Our medical staff worked hard to get him back healthy, and we trust the group. This win is a win for everybody.”
Nets point guard Dennis Schroder continued his strong play in the win, with 14 points and 12 assists. Schroder is averaging 17.8 points and 6.5 assists through 15 games this season.
