The 76ers (38-32) should face the Los Angeles Clippers (44-25) for the first time this season during a Sunday morning in Los Angeles.
The game against the Clippers follows a close 101-94 loss to the Lakers (38-32) Friday at Crypto.com Arena.
Despite the defeat, Nick Nurse and Tyrese Maxey found positives in the team’s defensive performance and execution of the game plan.
“The coach had a good game plan,” said Maxey (27 pts) after the match. “We got them to turn the ball over a little bit. We invaded the paint a lot, got our hands on a lot of deviations. We need to be better at executing and scoring when we go out and run.
The Sixers forced 21 Lakers turnovers (and were limited to just nine giveaways).
“We just have to stick with it on the defensive end,” Maxey added. “Sometimes the shots don’t fall. This is why basketball is played on both ends of the court. You have to play on both sides of the field.
Philadelphia continues to lead the league in steals per game (8.6). They are third in deflections per game (15.9) and tied for third in loose balls recovered per game (6.0).
The Sixers find themselves in a tough spot, with seven of their next nine games to be played on the road. Their four-game road trip ends Monday by visiting the Kings of Sacramento (40-29).
After Sunday’s game, the Sixers and Clippers will meet again Wednesday in South Philadelphia to close out the regular season series.
The Clippers (44-25) have won two in a row, sweeping a two-game set at Portland Wednesday and Friday. Paul George led the way in scoring for the Clippers in both games, scoring 27 points on Wednesday and 31 on Friday.
Kawhi Leonard leads the Clippers in scoring this season, averaging 23.8 points per game, plus 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game. George averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals. Former Sixer James Harden contributed 17.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game this season.
As of Saturday night, the Clippers hold the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, 1.5 games ahead of the No. 5 seed. Pelicans (43-27).
CLIPPERS-76ERS INJURY REPORT
Norman Powell (left leg bruise), PJ Tucker (right calf soreness) and Russell Westbrook (right calf soreness) are questionable for Los Angeles for Sunday’s contest.
Robert Covington (bruise to the left knee bone), Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus intervention), Kyle Lowry (rest and De’Anthony Melton (bony stress of the lumbar spine) are absent for Philadelphia.
THE BEST PERFORMANCES OF FRIDAY
- Maxey finished with a game-high 27 points, plus two rebounds, three assists and three steals.
- Oubre totaled 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in his 35 minutes of play.
- Harris notched a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, plus four assists, a steal and a block in his team’s 41 minutes.
- Bamba finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks in 32 minutes.
“I just want to win. Whatever it takes for us to win. We do what we can, and we’ll go back on Sunday and fight and try to get another W.”
Sunday’s game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EDT (12:30 p.m. local) in Los Angeles.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers are expected to wear their white Association Edition uniforms, while the Clippers will wear their navy City Edition uniforms.
