Sixers vs. Nets preview: Sixers look to remain dominant on home floor

The Philadelphia 76ers return home to host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.

It’s always good to be at home. It’s where one can be the most comfortable and where things feel just right. For the Philadelphia 76ers, they need to return home after another road trip that left them scratching their heads. They lost both games on a brief trip to the Dallas Mavericks and the Indiana Pacers and it will do them some good to return home and get back on track.

Their opponent on Wednesday is the Brooklyn Nets who are slowly getting healthy after recently welcoming back Caris LeVert and Kyrie Irving to their lineup. They fell victim to the red hot Utah Jazz on Tuesday while the Sixers were resting at home so Philadelphia has the rest advantage in this one.

With all of that information, it’s time for the game guide to this one:

How to watch Sixers vs. Nets

  • Date: Wednesday, January 15
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
  • TV: ESPN, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Injury Report

  • Sixers: OUT: Joel Embiid(left hand torn radial collateral ligament)
  • Nets: NOT YET SUBMITTED

Storylines

Sixers need to keep shooting

The Sixers are in a rut in terms of their offense as they have shot a combined 15-for-72 from deep over their previous two games, but in order for their offense to correctly operate, they need to keep firing it from deep. They have received plenty of wide-open looks and they know it so it would be best if they continue to take those open shots. They will eventually drop for them.

“We just have to make more open looks,” said Tobias Harris who shot 1-for-5 from deep on Monday. “I think all around we haven’t shot it well from three, we’ve got to stick with it. But at the same time, we’ve got to make more looks, more shots that we’re getting.”

Sixers look to correct mistakes

In their latest loss on Monday to the Pacers, the Sixers had a chance late. They rallied behind the strength of Josh Richardson, but they could not get the necessary stops late nor could they execute their plays offensively and that all played a part in them taking the loss. For them to get back on track, they will need to focus up more late in games and get defensive.

“I liked that defense for the very large majority of the game,” said coach Brett Brown. “I think their (Indiana) offensive rebounds in the second half bothered us. We drove into a crowd a lot in the fourth period. I think three of our turnovers just came in trying to penetrate and sort of getting stuck.”

Prediction

It’s very easy to see why the Sixers can win this game. They return home where they are a robust 18-2, they feed off the passionate Philadelphia crowd, and the Nets will be coming in on the second night of a back-to-back as they will be traveling. Philadelphia is still missing Embiid, but they have the size with Al Horford and Ben Simmons to attack the rim and put the pressure on Brooklyn. This should be a win for this team to get back on track.

Pick: Sixers by double-digits

Sixers vs. Nets season series

Game 1 December 15: 109-89 Nets

Game 2 January 15:

Game 3 January 20:

Game 4: February 20:

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