With the opening week of NBA season behind us, the Sixers (0-3) will look to upset the Rockets (3-0) tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7PM. Through the first three games of Sixers season, we have seen a lot of positives from a team with not too much skill. Nerlens Noel has shown off his defensive skill along with improving offense, despite scoring just two points in the home opener. The Sixers have kept things close with their opponents through three quarters in each game, but fail to get offensively situated in the final frame, leading to double-digit losses. Things don't get any easier for the rebuilding Sixers as they welcome in Dwight Howard, James Harden and the undefeated Houston Rockets.
There was plenty of buzz in Philadelphia surrounding the Sixers before their home opener, believe it or not. Nerlens Noel playing for the first time on home court, the unveiling of a new, state of the art 3D floor projection technology and of course, free t-shirts for all! The Sixers and Heat were pretty even through three, with Miami hanging on to a four point lead heading into the fourth. The Sixers were outscored 27-13 in the final 12 minutes, shooting just 26.7% from the floor and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. They ended up losing by 18, 114-96.
Meanwhile, the Rockets are off to a quick start to their season, beating the Lakers, Jazz and Celtics to open their season. After opening their season with a win in LA by a score of 108-90, the Rockets beat the Jazz in Utah by 11 and then beat Boston by 14 in their home opener on Saturday night. Houston jumped out to a 37-22 lead in the first quarter against Boston and never looked back, defeating the C's, 104-90. Dwight Howard had 14 points and eight boards while power forward Terrence Jones contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds. James Harden led all scorers with 26. He also had eight rebounds and six assists.
Game Notes:
- Through three games, the Sixers are second to last in the league in free-throw shooting, making just 61.5% of their attempts. Only the Pelicans have a worse percentage of 61%.
- In each of the last two fourth quarters, the Sixers have committed a combined 16 turnovers and scored a total of 20 points.
- On opening night, the Sixers turned the ball over just 11 times. In the last two games, they have 18 and 25 turnovers respectively.
- According to Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com, for the first time since early in his freshman year at Syracuse, Michael Carter-Williams does not feel pain in his shoulder. The Sixers believe a mid-November return is likely for the 2013-14 Rookie of the Year.
- The two teams split two meetings last year, with the Sixers taking the first matchup in November, 123-117 in OT while the Rockets took game two, 120-98 in Houston back in March.
- The Rockets are 4th in the NBA through three games in points allowed, limiting opponents to just 91 points a game in the early going.
- Tony Wroten ranks 7th in the NBA thus far with 7.7 assists per game.
Projected Starting Lineups:
Philadelphia 76ers
PG Tony Wroten
SG Hollis Thompson
SF Luc Mbah a Moute
PF Nerlens Noel
C Henry Sims
Houston Rockets
PG Patrick Beverly
SG James Harden
SF Trevor Ariza
PF Terrence Jones
C Dwight Howard
Injuries: Houston injuries: Dwight Howard is questionable with a sore knee. Point guard Patrick Beverley is also questionable (strained hamstring); forward Tarik Black questionable (bruised thigh).
Sixers injuries: Center Henry Sims questionable (upper respiratory infection); point guard Michael Carter-Williams out (right shoulder), center Joel Embiid out (right foot); small forward Jerami Grant out (right ankle sprain); shooting guard Jason Richardson out (left knee). (h/t CSNPhilly.com)
Prediction: I don't think the Sixers have much of a chance to win this one unless they limit their turnovers and improve their free throw percentage. If that improves, look for the game to be closer, but I expect the Rockets to take this one, 109-94.
Brandon Apter is a writer for Sixerdelphia.com
