ORLANDO, Fla. — The Philadelphia 76ers are seated at 3-22 p.m. after a 104-99 defeat in opposition to the Orlando Magic Sunday night. They’re simply two video games behind the Chicago Bulls for the ultimate play-in spot within the Jap Convention, which is nothing with 45 video games nonetheless to play, however the upcoming schedule is daunting.
The Sixers will host the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder Tuesday earlier than welcoming the New York Knicks Wednesday. It is a powerful two video games for Philadelphia earlier than hitting the highway for a 3-game highway journey in opposition to Indiana, Milwaukee and Denver.
Getting some consistency is paramount for Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers to attempt to climb out of the opening they’ve dug themselves into. Particularly in opposition to a machine-like Thunder staff led by MVP favourite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“They face a number of totally different challenges,” Maxey stated after the loss to the Magic. “I believe the Thunder are the No. 1 staff within the West for a cause. They performed everybody arduous. That they had a number of totally different video games the place a number of totally different guys scored. We all know what Shai thinks. It’s going to do it, however they’ve a number of depth on their staff and a number of totally different gamers that may rating on any given evening.”
The Thunder will enter the sport in opposition to the Sixers with the league’s No. 1 ranked protection and No. 7 offense. Whereas SGA will get a number of the shine – because it ought to – OKC has Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and others. This shall be an enormous problem for Philadelphia.
Then there are the Knicks. The Sixers are clearly conversant in the Knicks resulting from their proximity in addition to their first spherical loss to New York within the 2024 playoffs. This shall be Maxey’s first time seeing New York with Karl-Anthony Cities alongside Jalen Brunson and Co. as he missed the Nov. 12 loss to the Knicks resulting from harm.
“The Knicks, we all know what the Knicks can do,” Maxey stated. “They are going to play arduous. They are going to play arduous. It will be my first time enjoying in opposition to them with KAT so we’ll see what that problem presents, however they seem to be a good staff. Gifted. Properly coached.”
Both method, it is a very powerful sequence for the Sixers and if they do not rise to the problem, hastily they will discover themselves down 15-24 earlier than hitting the highway in hopes of flip. issues round.
“They’re enjoying very well,” added Paul George. “They’re each wholesome. They are going to power us to carry our greatest recreation and extra. It will be a problem. Most significantly, enjoying them again to again. We have got to get there.”
The Sixers and Thunder kick off Tuesday at 7 p.m. EST from the Wells Fargo Middle.
This text was initially printed on Sixers Wire: Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers focus on upcoming matchups in opposition to Thunder and Knicks
