It's been two days since the Sixers (15-52) dropped their frachise-worst 21st straight game. Even though they lost Monday against Indiana, they hung tough and made it close late in the fourth. Tonight, they are back home and will host the Chicago Bulls (37-30) at 7PM. The two teams split meetings earlier this season. The Sixers won on November 2nd to start the season 3-0, 107-104. The Bulls took care of the Sixers in Chicago, 103-78 in mid-January.
Monday night was the second game the Sixers had against the Pacers in a matter of days. Philadelphia played close in both games against the Eastern Conference leaders, but fell short in the final minutes. After their 21st straight loss, the next record that can be broken, if the slide continues, would be the longest losing streak at home. The Sixers have currently lost 16 in a row inside the confines of the Wells Fargo Center and the record is 19, set by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1992-93 season.
Meanwhile, the Bulls come to Philadelphia after falling to Kevin Durant and the Thunder on Monday night, 97-85. Although the Sixers and Bulls have met twice this year, the most recent matchup saw the Bulls run all over the Sixers, winning by 25 points. The Sixers will have their hands full with Joakim Noah. At 37-30, the Bulls sit in the 4th spot in the East. In the Western Conference, they wouldn't even be in the playoffs. Chicago isn't necessarily playing too well, posting a 5-4 record thus far in March.
Game Notes:
- The Sixers (110.7) are last in the NBA in points allowed per game while the Bulls (93.3) are last in the NBA in points scored per game.
- In two meetings this season against the Bulls, Michael Carter-Williams is averaging 18 points, 7.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. In his last five games, he is averaging a double-double with 17.2 ppg and 10.0 rpg.
- On the other side of things, Joakim Noah has had plenty of success against the Sixers this season, averaging 15.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in the two games. He has score 21 or more points in three of the last four games vs. PHI.
- Henry Sims is making the most of his increased playing time. In 11 games with the Sixers, he is averaging 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Starting Lineups:
Sixers Lineup
PG Michael Carter-Williams
SG Tony Wroten
SF Hollis Thompson
PF Thaddeus Young
C Henry Sims
Bulls Lineup
PG Kirk Hinrich
SG Jimmy Butler
SF Mike Dunleavy
PF Carlos Boozer
C Joakim Noah
Injury Report:
Sixers: James Anderson (thigh), Nerlens Noel (knee) and Jason Richardson (knee)
Bulls: Tornike Shengelia (flu) and Derrick Rose (knee)
Prediction…
After playing the Pacers tough on Friday, the Sixers got dominated by Memphis. The Sixers played tough against Indiana again on Monday, so will the result be the same? I don't think it will be a blowout, but the Bulls win this one 104-98.
Brandon Apter is a writer for Sixerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @ApterShock
