The Philadelphia 76ers have comfortably established themselves alongside the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks as one of many high 3 groups within the Jap Convention. After a head teaching change and a summer season filled with James Harden-related drama, reigning league MVP Joel Embiid and his working mate Tyrese Maxey have upped their sport much more. They return to Philadelphia on a 5-game win streak tonight after two highway wins in opposition to the Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets.
For the Spurs, tonight represents the ultimate cease on what has been a 5 sport highway journey. Although they’ve solely picked up a single win in that span, San Antonio has continued to indicate that they’re beginning to determine some issues out. Offered that one in all them doesn’t sit out, tonight it is going to even be the primary time that rookie Victor Wembanyama goes up in opposition to Embiid. Both method, it’s one other probability for Gregg Popovich’s group to go up in opposition to probably the greatest groups within the NBA because the All Star break looms.
San Antonio Spurs (8-34) at Philadelphia 76ers (28-13)
January 22 2023 | 6:00 PM CT
Watch: BSSW | Pay attention: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Sidy Cissoko, ankle (OUT), Charles Bassey, out for the yr
76ers Accidents: De’Anthony Melton, again (daily), Robert Covington, knee (daily), Mo Bamba, knee (daily), Jaden Springer, ankle (daily), Patrick Beverley, sickness (daily)
What to observe for
The previous couple of seasons have featured, for essentially the most half, the identical 3 massive males vying for the league’s MVP award. Wembanyama, who has already confronted two of these candidates, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokoumpo, could have confronted your entire trifecta after the matchup with Embiid tonight.
Embiid has raised his sport much more this season to account for the lack of James Harden. He’s main the league in scoring, averaging a career-high 35 factors an evening on unbelievable taking pictures numbers. He’s additionally improved his playmaking, pitching in only a tick below 6 assists per sport, one of the best of his profession. He additionally is aware of how you can get opposing defenders into foul bother, residing on the free throw line consequently, the place he’s additionally averaging a career-high in makes an attempt.
Tyrese Maxey has seen the largest manufacturing improve because the 76ers have regarded to exchange what Harden gave them on the offensive facet of the ball final season because the lead guard. Maxey’s taking pictures numbers are down a bit bit, however the whole lot else is up throughout the board, together with his scoring and help numbers. He’s averaging 6 extra factors per sport than he did final season (26 in comparison with 20) and over 3 extra assists as nicely (6.7 in comparison with 3.5). He’s averaging simply 1.7 turnovers in opposition to these 6.7 assists.
Zach Collins has regarded strong in his first two video games again from harm. With the Spurs beginning Wemby at middle, Collins can hopefully be efficient together with his all-around inside sport in opposition to opposing crew’s bench models. That is seemingly one of the best position for his abilities, quite counting on him as a 3-point taking pictures stretch 5, which the Spurs have been making an attempt to do early within the season.
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