Last night the Sixers defeated the Phoenix Suns 113-103 in a game they lead from early in the first quarter to the final buzzer. Ish Smith had a team high 20 points (7-17) followed closely by Robert Covington's 19 (7-15, 5-12 from 3). Nerlens Noel had a great game and once again displayed his incredible defensive versatility with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. Jahlil Okafor sat out with the flu, and will be out again tonight.
Tonight, the Sixers face a somewhat struggling Detroit Pistons team, only winning three of their last eight and on the borderline of the playoffs. While the Pistons hope to reverse their fortunes, the Sixers are looking to post their first consecutive wins. While it's never easy for this team, there's a definite chance of them pulling that off. If Nerlens Noel can keep Piston's center and NBA leading rebounder Andre Drummond off the glass, the Sixers have the tools to expose Detroit's middling defense. Be on the lookout for intentional fouls on Drummond, who's one of the league's worst free throw shooters at 35%
The Sixers are looking to continue their winning ways, after starting the season 1-30, the Sixers have gone 6-9 after acquiring Smith. While some may be concerned of the draft ramifications, younger players like Noel, Okafor, Jerami Grant, and TJ McConnell have shown dramatic improvement since they came into the league. It's no secret that the Sixers' front office is angling to amass as much top talent through the draft as possible, but even GM Sam Hinkie must be happy to see his roster grow and improve.
Projected Starting Lineups:
Sixers:
PG: Ish Smith
SG: Nik Stauskas
SF: Robert Covington
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Nerlens Noel
Injuries: Joel Embiid (foot), Jahlil Okafor (flu)
Pistons:
PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Marcus Morris
PF: Ersan Ilyasova
C: Andre Drummond
Injuries: None
Broadcast Informatiion:
Time/Location: 7:30pm Eastern, The Palace of Auburn Hills
TV: CSN Philly
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Stream: csnphilly.com
