Update: After initially being listed as doubtful for today’s game, Joel Embiid has now been downgraded to out.
After doing a nice job picking up two straights wins, including a solid performance against the Blazers on Sunday, it’s hardly surprising the Hospital Sixers faltered against the Nuggets on Tuesday. They were dismantled 124-96, falling behind 38-22 after the first quarter and never recovering from there.
If the Sixers are going to grab another win before any of their stars return, though, Thursday’s matchup against the Kings is one of their best opportunities. At just 18-52, Sacramento is firmly at the bottom of the Western Conference.
As the Sixers stay on the road for another 10pm tip-off on Thursday, they’ll still be missing their top talent. Tyrese Maxey and Paul George are out, as is Joel Embiid now after briefly being listed as doubtful. Johni Broome remains out after knee surgery, along with Kelly Oubre Jr. with his left elbow sprain.
The Kings aren’t close to full strength themselves either. Along with the major absences of Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine who are out for the season, Keegan Murray (left ankle sprain) is another notable loss, while De’Andre Hunter (left eye retinal repair), Drew Eubanks (left thumb UCL tear) and Devin Carter (right calf contusion) are all out. Malik Monk is questionable with a right ankle sprain.
Despite putting together some new offensive talent last season with additions like LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, the Kings haven’t been able to get anything going this year. Without Sabonis since early February as their offensive anchor, from his rock-solid interior scoring to his terrific play as a passing hub, has left the Kings faltering. LaVine being out since the All-Star break has only made matters worse. Pair their depleted, 26th-ranked offense with their useless 28th-ranked defense, which has been a problem over the last two seasons, they aren’t going anywhere except towards the top of the lottery odds.
The main concerns for the Sixers’ defense in this one are Monk, if he’s available, and DeRozan. Monk’s versatile scoring has remained efficient this season, from his attacks in the paint to his 39.6 percent three-point shooting on good volume.
Meanwhile, the Sixers’ forwards main challenge will be staying physical with DeRozan and contesting his mid-range game as best as possible. Only earlier this week, the 36-year-old DeRozan became the oldest player to record 40+ points and 10+ assists in a game.
Russell Westbrook continues to have a prominent role in the team’s offense as well, leading the team in usage percentage for the season. His perimeter shooting is never a concern, but the Sixers can’t fall asleep against his drives (along with those from Monk and DeRozan) and what he’ll be doing to pick out cutters and shooters as the team’s lead playmaker in Sabonis’s absence.
Nevertheless, it should go without saying that no result can be taken for granted for the Sixers right now. Even getting wins against tanking opponents aren’t a given.
A lot of pressure rest on the Sixers’ remaining lead guards to get the job done. Fortunately, Quentin Grimes has been on a roll lately. He has four 20+ point performances in his last eight games, averaging 20.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists over this stretch. His 31 points on 11-of-22 shooting against the Blazers this week were huge in getting the Sixers a somewhat unexpected win.
While some of the long twos Grimes still takes aren’t ideal for efficiency and he’s been cold from three (19.1 percent in this span), he’s been in a rhythm inside the arc by getting to his mid-rangers off the bounce and attacking the rim. If he can keep finding success attacking downhill (and ideally heat up from three), that would go a long way to keeping the Sixers more competitive until their stars return.
VJ Edgecombe may have struggled offensively against the Nuggets, but he was sound in the previous two games and still gives the Sixers the energy they desperately need when he’s flying around the floor at both ends. He picked up his fourth career double-double against the Blazers, and averaged 17.0 points on 45.2 percent shooting, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks over the Sixers’ two games at the weekend. If he can keep doing a bit of everything and get in a groove with his jumper again, Edgecombe can give the Sixers’ shorthanded offense enough of a lift to beat opponents like these Kings.
Hopefully the Sixers can get a little boost from there bench as well. Despite cooling against the Nuggets, Cam Payne has had his share of solid scoring nights and Marjon Beauchamp was a rare bright spot in Denver, scoring 16 points and making four triples.
It really shouldn’t take much to beat these injured, tanking Kings. And while the Sixers clearly don’t have much to offer right now, they should have enough for a decent shot at a win before tougher opponents come their way.
Surely things can’t get worse than that Nuggets loss… right?
When: Thursday, March 19, 10:00 p.m. ET
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
