The 76ers (4-6) will play host to the Phoenix Suns (7-2) Monday night on Penn Medicine Court at The Center.
The Sixers return to the floor following a 106-104 home loss to the New York Knicks on Friday. Joel Embiid (non-COVID illness), James Harden (right foot tendon strain), and Danuel House Jr. (non-COVID illness) did not play.
As of Sunday evening, Embiid and House Jr. were listed as questionable for Monday’s game against the Suns. Embiid practiced with the team on Sunday. Harden remains out.
Tyrese Maxey recorded his fourth 30-point game of the season with a game-high 31 points against New York. Maxey has scored at least 25 points in six of the team’s 10 contests. Tobias Harris delivered a season-high 23 points.
"Tonight's a tough one,” Harris said postgame, “because I thought for the majority of the game, we did a very good job of getting that ball hopping and creating some good looks off of their help defense. And just playing at a really good pace. So, it's tough that we weren't able to come out with the victory."
“For us, it’s really just figuring out ways that we can minimize some of our mistakes out there,” Harris added after Sunday’s practice. “Seeing the film, too many breakdowns defensively. Especially in that fourth quarter, which allowed them to kind of get on a run there and cut into the lead. For us, it’s about minimizing those mistakes and figuring out ways to get good shots. We got great shots in the first half. Some of them didn’t fall for us. We got to keep working on what was efficient for us during the game.
“Continuing to just feed off of the ball movement, body movement as well, is huge. We’re not far away. We know we’re going to need this time to come together and figure it out, and go on a little run here.”
The Sixers outscored the Knicks 30-16 in the third quarter, marking the fewest points they’ve allowed in a quarter this season.
Monday’s game between the Sixers and Suns is an 8 p.m. ET start in South Philadelphia.
Friday’s Key Performers
Tyrese Maxey
Tobias Harris
Montrezl Harrell
De’Anthony Melton
76ers vs. New York Knicks: Nov. 04, 2022
1 / 8PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 4: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play during the game New York Knicks on November 4, 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Opponent Outlook:
The Suns rebounded from a Friday night loss at home to the Portland Trail Blazers by defeating the Trail Blazers, 102-82, on Saturday.
Devin Booker dropped a game-high 24 points in the rematch. Former 76er Dario Šarić posted nine points and a game-high nine rebounds, while former Drexel University standout and first-year Suns player Damion Lee also scored nine points off the bench. Another former Sixer, Landry Shamet, added eight points in 19 minutes as a reserve.
Booker leads the Suns in scoring with 27.0 points per game, while Deandre Ayton (15.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG) is their leading rebounder and Chris Paul (10.3 PPG, 10.2 APG) averages the most assists on the team.
Paul, 37 years old and a 12-time NBA All-Star now in his 18th season, tallied 15 points five rebounds, and four assists in Saturday’s victory. Villanova product Mikal Bridges scored 11 points.
Phoenix boasts both the third-best offensive rating (116.4) and defensive rating (105.1) in the NBA.
Suns Head Coach Monty Williams, once a Sixers player and assistant coach, was the NBA Coach of the Year last season.
Sunday’s injury report for the Suns included the following players: Jae Crowder (Out - not with team), Cameron Johnson (Out - right meniscus tear), Cameron Payne (Questionable - left foot soreness), Ish Wainright (Out - personal reasons), and Duane Washington Jr. (Out - personal reasons).
@Sixers Social:
Quote to Note:
76ers Head Coach Doc Rivers on Dolph Schayes:
“It takes more to get a statue than being a great player. You have to be a great human being, and I think that’s what we should celebrate.”
The 76ers honored Schayes, a 12-time All-Star and one of the most beloved athletes ever to play for the organization, with a sculpture on 76ers Legends Walk at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on Saturday.