It’s been a whirlwind couple of days for the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite picking up a couple of wins, all of the talk was centered around booing and shushing the Philadelphia faithful. Then, Joel Embiid decided to troll the entire city of Philadelphia with the help of former Sixers forward Jimmy Butler so that made things interesting.
They will turn their attention to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday who, like the Sixers, entered this season with high championship expectations and they have some head-scratching losses. However, they do have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on their team so there’s a lot of talent up and down that Clippers roster.
With that said, it’s time for the guide to the final game before the All-Star break:
How to watch Sixers vs. Clippers
- Date: Tuesday, February 11
- Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
- TV: TNT
Injury Report
- Sixers: NONE
- Clippers: OUT: Patrick Beverley (sore right groin)
Storylines
Simmons used Leonard as motivation
The Sixers, of course, have their own history with Leonard while he was with the Toronto Raptors. In his one season in Toronto, Leonard led the Raptors to their first championship in franchise history and broke the Sixers’ hearts in the process. Ben Simmons then used Leonard as motivation to improve on the defensive end in order to become a more rounded player.
“Definitely,” said Simmons at practice ahead of Tuesday’s matchup with Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. “It set the tone for me. That was the last time I played him. I just tried to carry that energy and consistency to now.”
Embiid explains shushing
Embiid has drawn the ire of the city of Philadelphia after shushing the home crowd toward the end of the win on Sunday and it was due to the fans booing him for an inconsistent effort. The big man then gave an explanation that only he can deliver after it was all over.
“I don’t care how it looks,” he added. “I’m just playing basketball. Just getting back to myself, just being a good [expletive]. Just playing basketball and just trying to dominate. Thank you.”
Prediction
The Clippers are a tough team. Not only do they have star power in Leonard and George, but there are also guys like Montrezl Harrell, Lou Williams, and former Sixer Landry Shamet to really worry about. In the end, the Sixers are at home and that always makes a huge difference for this team. Embiid could be motivated to want to put the booing to an end and Simmons will want to make sure Leonard does not have any more big games.
Pick: Sixers in a close one
Sixers vs. Clippers season series
Game 1 February 11:
Game 2 March 1:
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