The grind never stops in the NBA, and for the Sixers, that means diving right back into action less than 24 hours after a thrilling 98-93 victory over the defending champion New York Knicks. That’s their second win against the champs this young season, which is huge, but now they are on the road in Charlotte, and honestly, you can expect a completely different Sixers team to hit the court.
Who’s Even Playing for the Sixers?
Look, after a grueling game like that, and being on short rest, it’s fair to wonder who’s even left standing. Jaylen Brown, he missed the Knicks game with patellar tendinopathy in his left knee, so it’s tough to see him lacing up tonight. And Joel Embiid and LeBron James? Both of them played big minutes against the Knicks on the front end of this back-to-back, so it’s pretty darn likely they’re sitting this one out too. That’s a massive chunk of their star power on the sidelines, no doubt about it. Even without those guys, though, the Sixers seem ready to handle talented scoring wings, which is a good thing. Dean Wade, for example, just had an absolutely phenomenal night guarding OG Anunoby. If Embiid is indeed out, guys like Adem Bona and whoever else steps up for center minutes will have their work cut out for them, but this team has shown it can adapt.
The Hornets Are No Walkover, Seriously
Now, let’s not just hand this game to Philly. Charlotte is on short rest themselves, having played Friday and lost to the Wizards in Washington, which dropped them to 3-3 on the season. They’re also waiting on Kon Knueppel, Coby White, and Grant Williams to make their season debuts, and who knows, they might have even more guys out. You can’t look at last season’s 2-1 Sixers advantage against Charlotte and think it means anything now, not with Brown and James on Philly’s roster and the Hornets having traded Lamelo Ball. This is a completely different Hornets squad. In a very small sample size, and without some of their best players, they’re 30th in points scored per 100 possessions, though that number is skewed by a rough 79-point performance against Washington. But here’s the kicker: they’re 10th in points allowed, according to Cleaning the Glass. Plus, all three of their wins have been by seven points or less, meaning they fight for every inch, while two of their three losses have been by 15 points or more, showing that when they get run over, it’s a full-on collapse. Brandon Miller, fresh off a contract extension, is putting up 25.6 points per game, but he’s only shooting 39% from the field. And watch out for Naz Reid. He’s the starting center on his new team and he’s averaging 17 points per game, shooting 43% from the field and a blistering 42% from three on seven attempts. His backup, Ryan Kalkbrenner, is a seven-foot-one problem all on his own.
This one should be a fast-paced game, with the Sixers still wanting to fly up and down the floor with their guards running the show. VJ Edgecombe is going to be a player to watch here. He’s been a great glue guy, but this could be his first real high usage game of the season. He’s only scored over 15 points once so far and is shooting just 29% from three, but let’s not forget he hit a massive triple from the top of the key to help seal that Knicks win. To sweep this back-to-back, even against a Charlotte team that’s finding its footing, the Sixers are gonna need big games from both members of VJ Maxx, or maybe another heater from Anfernee Simons. It’s going to take a village to fill those center minutes if Embiid is unavailable, no question about it. This game isn’t just about collecting another win, it’s about proving their depth and their will, even when the stars are resting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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