By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor
The Philadelphia 76ers (20-20) have been playing well lately, winning five of their last six games. Over the last five games, veteran sharp-shooting JJ Redick has caught fire, averaging 20 points on 51.7 percent shooting and 45.7 percent from beyond the arc. The Sixers will have a big challenge ahead as Redick will be out for at least two weeks after injuring his left leg in the fourth quarter of Monday afternoon's win against Toronto.
Redick is out (left leg) and will be re-evaluated in approx. 10-14 days. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/v5bKXcv5qF
— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoNBCS) January 17, 2018
Redick shot just 38.5 percent from beyond the arc in December, but had really come into his own recently, shooting 46.4 percent from three-point range over the last eight games. His loss will leave a hole in a Sixers roster that is already lacking depth at the wing position. Overall this season, J.J. is averaging 17.3 points on 44.8 percent shooting from the floor.
Right off the bat, expect Jerryd Bayless to get extended minutes in Redick's absence. Also, it wouldn't be surprising to see Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot on the floor more and ideally Justin Anderson will be available as well.
There's certainly no way to replace a sharp-shooter like Redick, but Robert Covington will be leaned on heavily for the team's long-range shooting with Dario Saric not too far behind.
The Sixers are off until Thursday, when they travel to Boston for the second time in the last three games. It will be the final time during the regular season that the two teams meet.