Brandon Apter (@bapter23), Managing Editor
There's no doubting that the Sixers (2-31) have been better during the last pair of games, one of which they won, and the other, they came back from a 21 point deficit against the Jazz but couldn't get the big shot to fall down the stretch. Prior to acquiring Ish Smith, the Sixers had failed to even look competitive, but that has changed a lot over the last two contests. Nerlens Noel has thoroughly enjoyed Smith's return and has been excelling at his natural position, center. Following the game against Utah, head coach Brett Brown said Noel's play at the five changes things "drastically". With Jahlil Okafor set to return tonight against the Kings (12-19), expect Brown to split minutes at center to play to the strengths of both big men.
The Sixers put themselves in a 14-point hole after the first quarter on Monday and that proved to be their undoing. Though they came back to take a lead late in the fourth, pitting themselves to that kind of deficit is something that needs to change if they want to stay in games throughout 48 minutes rather than attempting to come back from large deficit's. Midway through the third quarter, the Jazz led by 19, but Philadelphia staged a 29-10 run to end the frame. A Nerlens Noel dunk courtesy of Ish Smith late in the third allowed the Sixers to nab their first lead of the game, 78-76. The Sixers broke an 89-89 tie with just under 40 seconds remaining via another Noel dunk, but Utah's Gordon Hayward responded with a go-ahead three pointer to seal the win for the Jazz. Both Nik Stauskas and Ish Smith had opportunities to tie the game, but missed shots. Smith had six turnovers, but scored 22 points and had 11 assists. Richaun Holmes had 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting and three blocks off the bench while Nerlens Noel had 18 of his own to go along with six rebounds, five blocks and two steals. Isaiah Canaan, Robert Covington and Nik Stauskas combined to shoot a combined 4-for-21 from the field.
The Kings pose a tough matchup for the Sixers with their fast paced play and both Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor will have to deal with DeMarcus Cousins, who was ejected in Sacramento's loss to Golden State on Monday night. Cousins was ejected early in the third and the Warriors took advantage of his absence by going on a 26-9 run to end the quarter. The NBA may discipline Cousins, so if he misses tonight's game, it will be up to the struggling Rudy Gay and Omri Casspi to pick up the slack for the Kings, who are already short-handed thanks to some injuries.
Game Notes:
- Nerlens Noel is scoring at an average of 26.6 points per 48 minutes with Ish Smith on the floor compared to 16.0 without him. Last season, he scored 22.6 with Ish and 13.7 points per 48 minutes without him.
- Jahlil Okafor is considered a game-time decision for tonight
- The Sixers have won 14 of the last 17 games against the Kings over the last decade and five of the last seven.
- Nik Stauskas and Carl Landry will return to Sacramento tonight to face their former team, the Kings.
- Two of Brett Brown's former assistant coaches, Vance Walberg and Chad Iske, left Philadelphia during the offseason to join the Kings.
- Nerlens Noel has shot 14-for-16 from the field since moving back to the center position with Jahlil Okafor sidelined.
- Ish Smith has 36 points and 16 assists in his first two games back with the Sixers.
Probable Starting Lineups:
Sixers
PG – Ish Smith
SG – Isaiah Canaan
SF – JaKarr Sampson
PF – Carl Landry
C – Nerlens Noel
Injuries: Joel Embiid (broken right foot rehab, out), Jahlil Okafor (right knee soreness, doubtful).
Kings
PG – Rajon Rondo
SG – Ben McLemore
SF – Rudy Gay
PF – Omri Casspi
C – DeMarcus Cousins
Injuries: Duje Dukan (tibial bone contusion, out), Willie Cauley-Stein (right index finger open dislocation, out), Eric Moreland (fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, out)
Game Information:
Tip-off: 10:00pm
Location: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, California
TV: Comcast Sportsnet
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
