San Antonio
Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers Preview
The
Philadelphia 76ers host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday in a big-time NBA
clash. Philadelphia is an NBA title contender this season, while the Spurs are
in the playoff race in the West.
San Antonio
began the second half of the season with a record of 18-15, and it leads the
Southwest Division. The Spurs have gone 9-5 on the road this season, giving
them hope in this matchup.
Philadelphia
is leading the Atlantic Division with a 24-12 record, but it has plenty of
competition. The Sixers are trying to hold on to that lead while also staying
atop the Eastern Conference standings.
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With such a
shortened season, the playoff push will begin right away to start the second
half.
Spurs
Struggling to Score
The Spurs
are averaging just 110.8 points per game this season. San Antonio has made the
decision to seek a trade for LaMarcus Aldridge, taking away another option.
DeMar
DeRozan has been a star for San Antonio this season, but he is going to need
some help. DeRozan leads the team with 20.3 points and 7.3 assists this season
and makes all the big shots.
Gregg
Popovich has his team playing solid defense, giving up just 111 points per
game. The Spurs can slow the Sixers down, but it's unclear if they can score
enough points.
This is a
proud franchise that knows how to compete but finding offense continues to be a
major issue for the Spurs. The loss of Aldridge will make finding scoring even
more of a challenge.
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Sixers
Dealing With COVID-19
Joel Embiid
and Ben Simmons were both ruled out of the Sixers' game on Thursday night.
There is hope that both players will be back on the court by Sunday.
This would
be a huge blow to the Sixers if they were forced to miss multiple games.
Philadelphia does have some depth, but losing two All-Stars would leave it
shorthanded.
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Embiid is
averaging over 30 points per game this season, and he is now the favorite to
win the MVP Award. Simmons is dishing out more than seven assists per game, and
the Sixers can score.
Philadelphia
is averaging nearly 115 points per game while holding opponents to 111 per
night. The Sixers have been building for a season like this, and it finally
appears to be happening.
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Philly Too
Much at Home
The 76ers
are the much better team on paper, and that gap is even wider when they are
playing at home. Even though there are no fans in attendance, the Sixers enjoy
a big home-court advantage.
San Antonio
will begin life without Aldridge, and that will be a huge change for the Spurs.
Popovich has his team playing well, but it isn't one of the top teams in the
NBA.
Philadelphia
was one of the hottest teams coming into the All-Star break, and it should get
that back quickly. San Antonio will present a strong challenge, but it will be
Philadelphia that wins on Sunday.
Bet the
Philadelphia 76ers over the San Antonio Spurs.