The Sixers bounced back Sunday evening, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 129-105 to get back in the win column and improve their regular season record to 5-1. They now head into a Central Division back-to-back
on the road, starting with the Chicago Bulls, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Like the Sixers, the Bulls have been one of the more surprising teams in the league so far. Through six games, they’ve built the fifth-best offense in the NBA and boast the eighth-best net rating. On top of that, Chicago ranks in the top three for both assist percentage and assist ratio, moving the ball well and making the most of their opportunities.
So, what has transformed the middling Bulls into a team that could be among the top six in the East? A lot of it comes down to Josh Giddey, who appears to finally be putting it all together. Through six games, he’s averaging 22.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists on 49% shooting from the field, while connecting on nearly 41% of his three-pointers on 4.5 attempts per game. His improved shooting has opened up the floor for both him and his teammates.
Former 2024 lottery pick Matas Buzelius has also been an early standout, averaging 15.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 48.6% from the field and 41.4% from three. Former Sixer Nikola Vucevic has gotten off to a strong start as well, putting up a well-rounded 19.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 58.7% from the field and 53.8% from three.
These three have been the primary catalysts behind Chicago’s high-powered offense and will likely pose some significant defensive challenges for the Sixers.
The defensive end is where the Sixers have somewhat underwhelmed, although this could also be attributed to key players being in or out of the lineup. Defensively, the Sixers rank 19th, which has trended up over the past few games. Offensively, is where this year’s Sixers have shined, boasting the third best offense in the NBA thus far.
At the head of the spear, is Tyrese Maxey who seemingly appears to be making a serious jump to All-NBA level. Through six games, he’s averaged 33.7 points, 9 assists and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 46.4 percent from three. He’s led the league in minutes per game during that stretch.
Joel Embiid, coming off a load-management game, is expected to play against the Bulls. He is not listed on the injury report. After a slow start to the season, he’s put together some strong stat lines in limited minutes. In this game, the Sixers will need him to contain Nikola Vucevic, who does most of his damage from outside the paint with his shooting and playmaking. It will be a solid test for Embiid, as he faces a mobile, skilled big man.
Possibly even bigger news is that Jared McCain, listed as probable to play, will likely make his season debut. It’ll be his first game action since Dec. 13th, 2024. That’s a welcome sight for several reasons — the Sixers have been short on perimeter shooting outside of their high-volume on-ball guys. McCain should bring much-needed floor spacing and will get plenty of open looks created by Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Embiid. Just as important, his return should help cut down on Maxey’s league-leading minutes per game. Meanwhile, Paul George continues working his way back, as does two-way player Dominick Barlow. Both will be out for tonight’s game.
Two of the Eastern Conference’s hottest teams are about to face off in a game that could carry more weight than a typical November matchup. Depending on how the standings shake out, tiebreakers could become monumental — especially if Chicago keeps up its hot start. The question now is whether the Sixers’ defense can rise to the occasion, or if this one will turn into a full-on offensive shootout.
Game Details
When: Tuesday, November 4, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia+
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
