The Philadelphia 76ers recently secured their first win of the season and aim to continue their momentum when they host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. The Pistons, still searching for their first victory, hope to change their fortunes in this matchup.
After early-season losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors, the Sixers edged out the Indiana Pacers 118-114 in overtime on Sunday. Tyrese Maxey led the way, scoring 10 of his 45 points in overtime, bouncing back from two subpar games. Despite Maxey’s impressive performance, he has been shooting just 34.9% from the floor (23.7% from three-point range) through the first three games. With Joel Embiid and Paul George still sidelined due to knee injuries, Maxey has taken on a significant offensive load. Embiid and George are expected to miss their fourth straight game.
Meanwhile, the Pistons have lost their first four games in a challenging six-game stretch against Eastern Conference playoff teams from last season. They held a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat on Monday but ultimately lost 106-98. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff found encouragement in his team’s defensive performance, allowing a season-low 106 points and just 42 in the second half.
Wednesday’s game will see Tobias Harris return to Philadelphia, where he spent the previous 5 1/2 seasons, including some of the most productive years of his career. Now with the Pistons, Harris is focused on turning things around for his new team. On the other side, Philadelphia center Andre Drummond will face his former team, where he was a dominant rebounding force for over seven seasons. Now in his second stint with the Sixers, Drummond is averaging 10 points, 13 rebounds, and two steals per game through three contests, filling in for Embiid.
The Sixers have a strong track record against the Pistons, winning 22 of their last 25 matchups, including a four-game sweep last season with victory margins of eight, 18, 18, and 32 points. This game will test whether the Pistons can break their losing streak or if the Sixers will continue their dominance.
