The Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers late Friday night, dropping their record to 1-7 for the season. Although the start has been disappointing, there is some hope as this will be the last game without Joel Embiid, who is expected to return on Tuesday against the New York Knicks.
Despite the rough start, the team is only three games behind the third seed in the Eastern Conference, and they still have a chance to catch up, starting tonight.
As has been the case early this season, the Sixers will be missing key players. Embiid is still out, and Tyrese Maxey is not playing as he recovers from a hamstring strain. Paul George is expected to play, though he will be limited to about 25-30 minutes. It’s unclear if this restriction will be temporary or continue for future games.
Despite the tough start, there have been some bright spots for the Sixers, particularly from Jared McCain and Guerschon Yabusele.
McCain had his best game of the season, scoring 18 points in the loss to the Lakers. Yabusele has also been impressive, performing better than Andre Drummond in almost every game. While injuries have been frustrating, giving these bench players more playing time could be beneficial in the long run.
For the Hornets, things are looking better as they continue their rebuilding process. The team is led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Ball is averaging 28.4 points per game and shooting 12.4 threes per game. Miller, often compared to Paul George, is a tall forward who can hit perimeter shots. Both players have been playing well recently, coming off some strong performances.
Like the Sixers, the Hornets will also be without key players. Miles Bridges is out with a bone bruise, and starting center Mark Williams is dealing with a foot injury. Without Williams, the Hornets lack size, which could give Andre Drummond an opportunity to step up.
The Hornets have more talent on paper, but this is still a winnable game for the Sixers. Despite their star players performing well, the Hornets are below average in both offensive and defensive ratings this season.
The key to the Sixers’ chances will be limiting LaMelo Ball’s impact. Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin, and Paul George will likely take turns guarding Ball, and how well they can contain him will determine the outcome of the game.
Embiid will be back soon, and winning this game before his return would ease some of the pressure from the recent losses. Let’s see if the Sixers can manage to steal a victory here.
