The 76ers (18-12) bring a six-game winning streak into their Friday night clash with the LA Clippers (19-14) in South Philadelphia. All six wins were on home court, as the team prepares to wrap up their longest stretch of consecutive home games on the schedule.
The Sixers will then depart for a four-game road trip that includes a Christmas Day showdown with the New York Knicks. The Clippers begin a five-game trip having won five of their previous six games.
The injury report included a questionable status for LA’s John Wall (right ankle sprain) entering gameday. Wednesday featured the full Clippers roster – with the exception of players participating in the 18th annual NBA G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas, at which the Ontario Clippers won the $100K prize on Thursday – for the first time since their home opener. 76er Tyrese Maxey (foot) has been out since Nov. 19.
The Clippers defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 126-105, last time out and connected on a season-high 23 three-pointers. Paul George (22 points) and Kawhi Leonard (16 points) – who have missed a combined 31 games this season – both played 31 minutes.
In their own victory on Wednesday, a 113-93 triumph over the Detroit Pistons, the Sixers produced a season-high 36 points off 22 Pistons turnovers.
“I just think that in this homestand, the ball has been moving,” Tobias Harris said. “We’re really finding each other out there on the floor. Our pace is picking up. If I had to pinpoint two things, I think it would be our pace from time to time and our ball movement. That’s been helping us a lot.”
The bench is contributing, too, in a season where multiple injuries altered early-season rotations for 76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers and his staff.
“I just think part of the reason is when all of these guys were out, [the reserves] were starting,” Rivers said. “They were playing major minutes and now they have confidence. We work with them. We worked after [morning shootaround] with the bench-only group trying to get spacing. We ran a play out of the timeout, and that’s why they were all pointing to the bench, because the play worked. It only works if the guy makes the shot, and Georges [Niang] made the shot, so he was happy. They have a good chemistry together. They’re starting to read each other really well.”
Rivers served as the Clippers’ head coach for seven seasons from 2013-2020.
Friday will be the first of two meetings between the clubs this season (Jan. 17 in Los Angeles).
The contest is a 7:00 p.m. ET start.
When We Last Saw Them…
Eight Sixers scored at least nine points in the home win over Detroit:
P.J. Tucker grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds.
76ers vs. Detroit Pistons: Dec. 21, 2022
1 / 6PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 21: James Harden #1 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
@Sixers Social:
Quote to Note:
Georges Niang on the court postgame:
“It’s the season of giving, so everybody is looking to make the extra pass and everybody is looking to make sure everyone else is happy.”
The Sixers dished out 27 assists against the Pistons, marking their fifteenth game of the season with at least 25.