The Philadelphia 76ers return home from a fairly successful road trip after two consecutive wins to begin the trip to snap a six-game road skid. They return home and they are running into the freight train of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers are entering Philadelphia on Saturday coming off a big win over the Brooklyn Nets and they are playing some good basketball overall. The shooting of Danny Green, Avery Bradley, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope surrounding their two stars has been essential for their success and the Sixers will have their challenges against them.
With that said, it’s time for the guide to this one:
How to watch Sixers vs. Lakers
- Date: Saturday, January 25
- Time: 8:30 p.m. EST
- Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
- TV: ABC
Injury Report
- Sixers: OUT: Joel Embiid (left hand torn radial collateral ligament), Josh Richardson (left hamstring strain)
- Lakers: OUT: DeMarcus Cousins (right knee rehab) QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Davis (gluteus maximus contusion) PROBABLE: Kyle Kuzma (left ankle sore)
Storylines
Embiid returns to practice
The Sixers have been without superstar big man Joel Embiid for eight games now and Saturday’s game will make it nine. They have missed him a lot on both ends of the floor, but there have been new developments as Ben Simmons has played some center recently. The big news is, Embiid did return to practice on Friday and he will be reassessed on Monday as he progresses towards a return.
“That was my first practice since this thing happened,” he added. “So it’s encouraging. I don’t know when I’m going to be back, we’re going to see how it goes. I’m going to keep getting my two-a-days every single day and try to get better.”
Milton as a ball-handler
On top of Embiid being out, the Sixers are also without Josh Richardson who will be sidelined 2-3 weeks with a left hamstring strain. Richardson had been essential in moving Simmons to the center position due to his ability to handle the ball and run the pick-and-roll. That responsibility will now fall on Shake Milton as he looks to take on a bigger role for coach Brett Brown.
“It’s always on my mind to find a pick-and-roll partner for Ben,” said Brown at practice on Friday. “Then it’s on your mind ‘Well what do you do with the other players?’ namely the center. Do you play Ben at 5? So Shake comes in, he actually can run a pick-and-roll, he actually can shoot, and so that interests me.”
Prediction
The Sixers will be down two starters and it is a tough ask for them to knock off James and the Lakers. The saving grace is that it could be a trap game for Los Angeles due to the fact that this is the final game of the road trip and they face the Los Angeles Clippers next. So they could be looking ahead. However, the odds are not in Philadelphia’s favor. It will be tough to get a win in this one.
Pick: Lakers in a close one
Sixers vs. Lakers season series
Game 1 January 25:
Game 2 March 3: