The Philadelphia 76ers have been a very good team in recent seasons. They have won 50+ games in back-to-back seasons and they are considered legitimate NBA title contenders. However, they have not been able to figure out a way to win a road game against the Washington Wizards.
The last time the Sixers won at Capital One Arena, it was November 1, 2013, and they were led by Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner. That, of course, was the beginning of the infamous “Process” years and they have not been able to win in D.C. ever since. Thursday offers a new opportunity to end that nasty skid.
With that being said, it’s time for the game preview with the works:
How to watch Sixers vs. Wizards
- Date: Thursday, December 5
- Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Location: Capital One Arena Washington D.C.
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia+
Injury Report
- Sixers: OUT: Josh Richardson(right hamstring tightness), PROBABLE: Shake Milton(right hip discomfort)
- Wizards: OUT: Thomas Bryant(right foot stress reaction), C.J. Miles(left wrist ligament), John Wall(left Achilles) QUESTIONABLE: Ian Mahinmi((right Achilles strain), Moritz Wagner(left ankle sprain)
Storylines
Sixers prepare for Bradley Beal
Despite John Wall being out for the season, the Wizards have one of the best offenses in the league led by Bradley Beal who is averaging 27.8 points on the season and is coming off a game where he scored 42 points in a loss to the Orlando Magic. He is becoming one of the better scorers in the league and coach Brett Brown has high praise for the Wizards star.
He can fire it, he can drive it, he’s really good at moving without the ball, so he’s got the whole thing,” Brown continued. “He can shoot it as a base and I think it’s out of evolution, you start learning well, ‘people won’t let me shoot it, not I got to learn how to drive it’ and ‘uh oh, now they’re really guarding me close, now I’ve got to set people up and move without the ball and free myself up and expose fouls to refs’ like he’s got the whole thing. For those reasons, he’s a really hard ask to guard.”
Horford helping Korkmaz
Furkan Korkmaz has had a nice breakout season with the Sixers in his third season in the league and it is mostly due to the leadership of Al Horford. Korkmaz has taken leaps and bounds forward on both ends of the floor and he said it is due to the fact that he and Horford are communicating well. The veteran is in his ear helping him correct mistakes.
“After a possession, we’re normally talking to each other,” said Korkmaz. “He’s trying to explain to me what I can do better or what I did good so next possession if I see him, I ask him ‘Hey, what should I do? What am I supposed to do?’ We communicate really well.”
Prediction
This is the type of game where the Sixers could have a letdown. The Wizards are not one of the better teams in the league, despite their powerful offense, and they are the worst defense in the league based on both defensive rating and points given up per game. Beal does a great job of getting his teammates involved and it could hurt the Sixers all night long. However, with Thomas Bryant out, it could lead to a big night from Joel Embiid and Horford. It will be close, but the Sixers should come away with a win in D.C. for the first time in six years.
Pick: Sixers in a close one
Sixers vs. Wizards season series
Game 1 December 5:
Game 2 December 21:
Game 3 March 16:
Game 4 April 3:
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