The Sixers could be without a center tonight as Adem Bona and Andre Drummond were both added to the injury report ahead of the team's matchup against the Pistons in Detroit. Philadelphia is coming off a come-from-behind 139-129 victory over the Grizzlies on Tuesday night, while the Pistons took some revenge, 138-100, on a Nets team that had beaten them just a few days earlier.
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (35-30) at Detroit Pistons (46-18)
When: 7:00 p.m. EST
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI.
Watch: Prime Video
At this point in the season, after all the team has gone through, you have to wonder if the Sixers will find any sort of luck. VJ Edgecombe returned after missing a few games, but it was announced that Tyrese Maxey would miss at least three weeks with a pinky injury. This is on top of the Paul George suspension and Joel Embiid's injury. Now, the Sixers will be missing Kelly Oubre Jr., who's been another big piece for the Sixers over the past few seasons.
After Tuesday's huge win, in which Cam Payne scored 32 points off the bench, and Oubre Jr. had 30 points and 12 rebounds, it was revealed that Oubre Jr. had suffered an LCL sprain in his left elbow and will miss roughly two weeks. The team will be left to Payne and Quentin Grimes to help Edgecombe try to take down the best team in the conference.
The Pistons had a rough week, losing to the Cavaliers, Spurs, Nets, and Heat before getting themselves right and dominating the Nets, 138-100, on Tuesday night. The Pistons came with a balanced attack; only Ron Holland II had 30 minutes on the floor, while six players scored in double-figures.
With Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham leading the way, players like Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, and Isaiah Stewart have all played pivotal roles for the team throughout the season. With players like Holland and Dannis Jenkins playing strong roles as well, the team is well-rounded and hoping to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals this year.
After the game on Tuesday, people will be clamoring for Cam Payne to get more minutes and see if he can replicate the amazing show he put on against the Grizzlies. While there is potential for Payne and Quentin Grimes to perform, the Sixers will have a hard time competing against this version of the Pistons. The Sixers are too short-handed, and the Pistons are too deep for this one to turn out any other way but a loss.
For Sixers fans, there will likely be highlight plays from Edgecombe, as they've grown to expect, but the team will have a hard time defending the Pistons' attack inside and out tonight. While Detroit isn't a great three-point shooting team, against weaker defensive teams, as the Sixers have been, they can light up the scoreboard, shooting 50% against the Nets this past Tuesday night.
Pistons 131 - Sixers 93
