Shorthanded Sixers Face Off Against Star-Studded Lakers in Pivotal Play-In Chase

The Philadelphia 76ers seemed to finally be trending in the right direction, thanks to an impressive weekend performance. They swept a back-to-back, stunning the Cleveland Cavaliers and pulling off what many assumed would be a schedule loss against the Chicago Bulls. With those wins, the Sixers now sit just 1.5 games behind the Bulls for the final Play-In Tournament spot. Chicago, on the other hand, appears ready to lean into a rebuild, with reports indicating that both Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine are being actively shopped. Despite the ups and downs of the first half of the season, the Sixers’ postseason hopes remain very much alive. Credit the chaotic state of the Eastern Conference for keeping those aspirations realistic. And for those still advocating for a Sixers tank, one look at the nightly lineups fielded by teams like the Wizards and Hornets should make you reconsider.

But, as is typical with the Sixers, good news rarely comes without some bad. Despite showcasing his athleticism with handstands in practice, Joel Embiid remains sidelined and will miss at least tonight’s game against the Lakers and tomorrow’s matchup against Sacramento. Normally, this might be a humorous situation, but given the team’s precarious state, it’s anything but funny. Adding to the challenges, Paul George is also out after injuring his pinky on Saturday, leaving Tyrese Maxey to shoulder an even heavier burden. While the “Maxey and Friends” show has its moments, it often highlights how overwhelmed the young star has been, leading to frustration with referees and exhaustion from carrying the load.

The Sixers face the Los Angeles Lakers tonight, who defeated them earlier this season, 116-106. The Lakers are on the second leg of a back-to-back after a win in Charlotte, where Anthony Davis dominated with 42 points and 23 rebounds. Although Davis and LeBron James were listed as probable yesterday, their presence tonight seems likely, especially with the game being nationally televised.

FanDuel lists the Sixers as 4.5-point underdogs in the first of six straight home games. With Embiid out and the Lakers hitting their stride, Philadelphia will need to replicate their weekend effort to keep their momentum alive.