Though the Sixers came away with their ninth victory of the season last night, ensuring they will not set a new record for most losses in a season, it came at a high cost.During their 95-89 victory over the Nets, Robert Covington was hospitalized after an inadvertent kick to the chin, requiring him to be taken off the floor on a stretcher. Jerami Grant, whose foot took out Covington, was also injured on the same play and is expected to be out tonight as well. The Sixers have also lost star rookie Jahlil Okafor for the remainder of the season with a meniscus tear. Richaun Holmes is out with an Achilles injury.
The Sixers look for their first back to back victory of the season tonight against the Detroit Pistons. Before their win last night, the Sixers were winless over their previous 13 games. The losses have been marked by poor defense, allowing over 110 points in all but three of the losses. However the Sixers offense has improved in terms of points per game, if lacking in efficiency, scoring over 100 in 9 of the 13.
The Pistons come into the game winning 6 of their last 9, including a 111-91 win over the Sixers on Feb. 24 behind a nice performance by newly acquired Tobias Harris. However Detroit comes in banged up as well with injuries to SF Stanley Johnson, PF Anthony Tolliver, and SG Jodie Meeks. This will be the fourth meeting this season between the two teams, with the Pistons convincing winning all three of the previous matchups. The Sixers need to be able to stop C Andre Drummon on the boards and lock up Detroit's talented perimeter players.
Game Notes:
- 33-32 Detroit is a half game up on the 32-32 Chicago Bulls for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference
- The Sixers have not won consecutive games since March of 2015 (Pistons and Knicks)
- The Golden State Warriors have less losses than the Sixers have wins
Projected Starting Lineups
Sixers
PG: Ish Smith (15.3 ppg, 7.2 apg)
SG: Nik Stauskas (7.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
SF: Hollis Thompson (9.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
PF: Carl Landry (7.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
C: Nerlens Noel (11.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg)
Injuries: Joel Embiid (foot), Jahlil Okafor (knee), Robert Covington (concussion), Richaun Holmes (ankle), Jerami Grant (concussion)
Pistons:
PG: Reggie Jackson (19.1 ppg, 6.2 apg)
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (14.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
SF: Tobais Harris (17.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
PF: Marcus Morris (13.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
C: Andre Drummond (16.6 ppg, 15.0 rpg)
Injuries: Jodie Meeks (foot), Anthony Tolliver (knee), Stanley Johnson (shoulder)
Broadcast Information
Time/Location: 7pm The Center
TV: CSN Philly
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Stream: csnphilly.com
