Here is what you need to know before the Lakers take on the Philadelphia 76ers.
1)
After collecting 22 points and 16 rebounds against Brooklyn on Sunday, Jordan Hill now has 22 double-doubles on the season, which has shattered his previous career-high of 15 from last year. In fact, Hill has as many double-doubles this season as he did in his previous five years combined.
2)
Jeremy Lin will sit out for the second straight game due to an upper respiratory infection. Wayne Ellington, who scored 13 points on 5-for-12 shooting on Sunday, will start in his place.
3)
The last time the Lakers and 76ers met up was just eight days ago. In that contest, L.A. held Philadelphia to 36.0 percent shooting from the field, which was the worst clip by an opponent since Minnesota shot 34.7 percent on Dec. 20, 2013.
4)
Nerlens Noel has been one of the league’s top first-year players, as he is on pace to join David Robinson as the only rookies in NBA history to average 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks in a season. Noel currently leads in both categories with 1.8 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. He is also first among rookies in rebounds (8.1) and double-doubles (16).
5)
UCLA product Luc Mbah a Moute has found his groove in his sixth NBA season and first with the Sixers. The 2006 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year is currently averaging career highs in points (10.1), assists (1.7) and steals (1.2).
6)
Robert Covington hit an NBA-record 129 3-pointers during the first 60 games of his career (through March 13). The Tennessee State product broke the previous mark held by Damian Lillard (131), who also played 794 more minutes and attempted 32 more triples than Covington.
7)
Starting point guard Ish Smith has shuffled through the league like few others in NBA history. Playing in just his fifth season, Smith is already a member of his eighth different team (Houston, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia).
8)
The all-time series between the Lakers and 76ers has been a tight one, as L.A. holds a 141-131 advantage. However, the Sixers have protected their home floor, boasting a 76-43 record against the purple and gold in Philadelphia.
9)
The 76ers are scoring a league-low 91.4 points per game. Even more telling is Philadelphia’s 40.9 field goal percentage, which is on pace to be the NBA’s worst since Golden State shot the same clip in 2000-01. No team has shot a worse mark across a non-lockout shortened season since the San Francisco Warriors hit just 40.3 percent of their attempts 50 years ago.
76ers Shot Chart
10)
The 76ers have both thrived and crashed due to turnovers. They commit the most in the league (17.9), which opponents convert into an NBA-high 20.6 points. However, the Sixers also rank first in steals (9.8), while also swatting the third-most shots (6.1).