The Sixers narrowly lost at home to the Knicks, 112–109, Saturday. The team left shortly after the game to avoid the massive snowstorm sweeping across much of the East. Now they’ll look to bounce back against the Charlotte Hornets, a team that has seen its share of highs and lows this season.
The Sixers faced this club earlier in the season, coming away with a win, though it didn’t come easily. But what’s changed with the Hornets since then? As it stands, they sit 10 games under .500 at 18–28, good
for 12th in the Eastern Conference. While it’s another underwhelming record for a team that’s made a habit of that territory, there are some promising developments starting to take shape in Buzz City, and it begins with Kon Knueppel.
The fourth overall pick in last year’s draft has delivered one of the most impressive offensive regular seasons we’ve seen from a rookie guard in quite some time. Now halfway through the year, the former Duke Blue Devil is averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 32.2 minutes per game across 45 appearances. His efficiency has been outstanding, shooting 48.1 percent from the field, 42.2 percent from three and 89.5 percent from the line, putting him just shy of a 50/40/90 season in his first year.
There are other silver linings to the Hornets’ season. Ryan Kalkbreener, drafted a few picks ahead of Johni Broome, has impressed as a first-year big. Former No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller remains in the fold and has put together a strong stretch of games. It’s an early foundation for a team that has desperately needed one, and for the first time in a while, you can start to see where this group might be headed.
There are still plenty of problem areas, though. LaMelo Ball trade rumors have followed the team all season, as he’s once again struggled to stay on the floor, and there appear to be growing tensions with the coaching staff. In some ways, this team feels similar to the Sixers, with two timelines beginning to form and an eventual decision looming. The Hornets’ path forward just happens to look a bit clearer on paper.
The Sixers’ season, on the other hand, has fluctuated quite a bit. We’ve seen them pick up strong wins against proven opponents, and we’ve also seen them struggle at home, where the home-court advantage no longer seems to matter much. While they’re treading water in the postseason race, these are the types of games they need to win to give themselves a chance.
Despite the loss Saturday, there are still positives to take away, starting with Joel Embiid, who has turned back the clock. He’s coming off two straight 30-plus-point performances and not only looks healthy, but like the MVP-caliber player we’ve become accustomed to in recent years. As we’ll touch on below, though, the Sixers will be without their most productive player of late.
Tyrese Maxey will also look to get back on track. His last outing wasn’t a bad one by any means, even if the final shot selection raised some eyebrows. Still, by his standards, the numbers have dipped. Some of that may be tied to the heavy minutes he’s logging, but this sets up as a strong opportunity for his shot to start falling again. While the Hornets have offensive talent, they lack perimeter defenders, meaning Maxey will likely see matchups against Ball, Knueppel and Miller for stretches at a time.
Joining Embiid on the sidelines will be Paul George, which opens up increased opportunities for VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre. Edgecombe feels due for a strong performance and will need to play aggressively for the Sixers to have a chance. Oubre has also picked up his production and has been one of their better players over the past two games. He typically performs well against former teams and will look to continue that trend here against the Hornets.
The Sixers will be without Embiid (left knee management) and George (left knee management). The Hornets will be without Mason Plumlee and KJ Simpson, while Collin Sexton is listed as probable.
On paper, this shapes up as a prime opportunity for a bounce-back win and a chance to start stacking some W’s. Of course, at this point, that probably just means a three-point game with two minutes left. That has been the MO all season. It is also worth noting that the team will almost immediately fly out to Milwaukee after this game for the second half of their back-to-back, a city that has seen quite a bit of snow and flight cancellations. Regardless, the Sixers have a chance to lock in two W’s against struggling teams. Let’s see if they can get it done in this afternoon affair.
Game Details
When: Monday, January 26, 3:00 p.m. ET
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
