The 76ers (33-25) will seek a bounce-back win Friday, hosting the Charlotte Hornets (15-44) in South Philadelphia.
The Sixers have won both of their first two matchups with the Hornets this season thus far - a 135-82 victory on Dec.16, and a 97-89 win on Jan. 20. Philadelphia and Charlotte played their first pair of meetings this season in Charlotte, and will play the final two in Philadelphia (the fourth and final matchup coming March 16).
Joel Embiid (out - left knee meniscus procedure) led the way in both of his team’s first two wins, notching a 42-point, 15-rebound double-double in the first victory and a 33-point, 10-rebound double-double in the second.
And while Embiid remains sidelined, he was in Camden with his teammates Thursday, addressing the media following the team’s practice.
“I just love playing basketball,” Embiid reflected on his weeks recovering from surgery. “I want to be on the floor as much as possible. I only have about 20 years to do this, so any chances that I get, I want to be on the floor. I just want to play as much as I can, and try to help us.”
The reigning MVP also discussed his historic season to date - averaging 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.
“Great season - it’s not over yet,” Embiid said. “The goal is always about winning.”
“I was on a roll, and I felt like I wasn’t even close to where I wanted to be, body-wise and basketball-wise, because I wasn’t at my best. I felt like there was still another level that I could go to.”
Friday’s matchup represents a single-game stop at home for the 76ers, who will travel to Dallas Saturday for a Sunday matinee matchup with the Mavericks (34-25), followed by a Tuesday visit to the Brooklyn Nets (22-36).
As of Thursday evening, the Sixers hold the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference, holding the same record as the No. 5 Heat (33-25) and 1.5 games behind the No. 4 Knicks (35-24).
OPPONENT OUTLOOK
The Hornets will visit the Sixers on the second night of a back-to-back, after dropping both sides of a home-and-home versus Milwaukee.
Charlotte fell 111-99 to Milwaukee Thursday in Charlotte, and fell 123-85 Tuesday in Milwaukee.
Brandon Miller led the way for Charlotte in scoring Thursday, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds, and an assist in 40 minutes of play.
LaMelo Ball has been out for Charlotte since Jan. 27 (ankle). Ball leads the Hornets in scoring in his 22 appearances this season, averaging 23.9 points, plus 5.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game.
76ERS INJURY REPORT
Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus procedure), De’Anthony Melton (back; lumbar spine bone stress), and Robert Covington (left knee bone bruise) are out Friday. KJ Martin (right ankle impingement) is questionable.
TUESDAY’S KEY PERFORMANCES
- Maxey poured in 32 points on 12-for-24 shooting Tuesday in Boston, plus three rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block in his 37 minutes of play.
- Council scored a bench-high 16 points, shooting an efficient 6-for-8 from the field and 4-for-4 from the foul line, plus four rebounds and an assist in his 19 minutes of play.
FOLLOW ALONG
Friday’s game is set for 7:00 p.m. ET in Philadelphia.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus
Listen: 97.5 The Fanatic
UNIFORMS
The Sixers will wear their red Statement Edition uniforms, while the Hornets will wear their white Association Edition uniforms.
@SIXERS SOCIAL