The 76ers (35-28) are bound for the Big Apple, visiting the New York Knicks (37-26) for a two-game set at Madison Square Garden on Sunday and Tuesday.
The Sixers will look to end a three-game skid during a short-handed streak, most recently falling to the New Orleans Pelicans (38-25), 103-95Friday at home.
After a slow start, the Sixers rebounded for a strong second half punctuated by a 34-19 fourth-quarter advantage, but ultimately fell just short.
Buddy Hield believes his team can take advantage of the momentum built in Friday’s second half for the road trip ahead:
“We know we go to the Garden, they’re going to be loud, they’re going to be ready to compete,” Hield said after Saturday’s practice. “If we come in with the same intensity as we did in the third and fourth quarter (Friday), we’ll be fine.”
From Saturday afternoon, the Knicks are in fourth place in the East, while the Sixers are in seventh place. Just 2.0 games separate seeds four through seven.
“We know what’s at stake,” Hield added. “In the rankings, we are all bundled up. We have a chance to close the gap.
After the matches on Sunday and Tuesday at Madison Square GardenThe Sixers will wrap up their three-game trip to Milwaukee on Thursday.
The Knicks are 4-4 in their last eight games and won their last outing when they hosted Orlando on Friday, 98-74.
All-Star Jalen Brunson, who returned to the field (bruised left knee) on Friday, led his team in scoring, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and four blocks in 36 minutes of play.
The Knicks led Friday’s contest and Orlando’s 74 points marked the lowest point total scored by an NBA team this season.
Brunson is the Knicks’ leading scorer this season, averaging 27.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 6.5 assists per game.
The Knicks also remain shorthanded, as Brunson’s star Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder) hasn’t played since Jan. 27, when New York earned a 125-109 win over the Miami Heat . OG Anunoby (right elbow surgery) has also been out since.
SIXERS/KNICKS INJURY REPORT
Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus procedure), Tyrese Maxey (concussion), Robert Covington (left knee bruise) and De’Anthony Melton (lumbar bone stress) remain out Sunday for Philadelphia.
New Yorkers Randle, Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson (left ankle surgery) are also out.
FRIDAY’S KEY CONTRIBUTORS
- Harris finished with a team-high 21 points, plus 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block in his 39 minutes of play Friday.
- Oubre totaled 20 points, seven rebounds and two assists in his 34 minutes of play.
- Reed notched a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds (his 11 rebounds were a team high), plus two assists, a steal and three blocks in a game-high 27 minutes.
- Payne added 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting, plus four assists in 23 minutes.
Coach Nick Nurse talks about attacking the upcoming schedule one game at a time…
“You approach every game trying to figure out how to execute and how to put yourself in position to give yourself a chance to win. Everyone is scrambling now, and it’s getting interesting. This is going to be a battle and I want us to be part of that battle.
Sunday’s game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET in New York.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN
The Sixers are expected to wear their red Statement Edition uniforms, while the Knicks will wear their blue City Edition uniforms.
