Wizard’s 16-25 vs Sixers 27-14
When: Wednesday, January 9th, at 7 p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.
TV: NBC Sports Washington, NBCSP / Radio: 1500 AM, 97.5 The Fanatic
Injury
Wizards: Dwight Howard (Day to Day/ Back), John Wall (Out for the season/ Haglund’s deformity and chronic Achilles tendon injury), Markieff Morris (Day to Day/ Stinger,Neck Stiffness)
Sixers: JJ Redick (Day to Day/ Back), Markelle Fultz (Out/Shoulder), Justin Patton ( Out/Foot), Zhaire Smith (Out/Foot)
Wizards -
112.7 - points per game
116.8 - points against
46.3 - Field goal %
Sixers -
114.8 - points per game
112.2 - points against
46.9 - field goal %
Keep an eye on:
Effort: The Sixers are difficult enough to deal with due to their two generational talents, who also happen to be the cornerstones of the franchise in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Add in all-star wing Jimmy Butler, accomplished vets in JJ Redick and Wilson Chandler and Philly can field a team capable of competing with any team on a nightly basis. However, it becomes nearly impossible to beat Sixers or any team for that matter in the NBA, if you allow players at the end of the rotation to come in and post career highs on you. That’s exactly what happened last night in Washington’s 132-115 blowout loss to Philadelphia when rookie guard Landry Shamet went off for a game high 29 points on eight 3-pointers, both career highs. Shamet hit three triples in the second quarter and four in the third. The Wizards were outscored by Philly 72-49 through the second and third quarters. For the game the Sixers shot 55 percent from the field and 51 percent from deep. That’s just shows a lack of intensity and focus on Washington’s part, something that has plagued this team throughout the season, and regardless who’s out with injury, you can’t have that. I can go on and on about how containing Embiid, keeping Simmons out the paint, Washington being on a string offensively with ball movement and defensively will be key to who wins, but none of that matters if we see the same effort from last night. Tonight is all about redemption in that area.