The Philadelphia 76ers will look for a two-game sweep over the visiting Detroit Pistons when the teams meet Tuesday night for the second time in three days.
Playing without Joel Embiid (sore left foot), the Sixers cruised past the host Pistons 123-111 on Sunday.
Embiid has missed the last three games and remains day-to-day.
James Harden more than picked up the slack with 20 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds against the Pistons for his 71st career triple-double.
Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points and Montrezl Harrell added 20, but Harden was the catalyst throughout the game.
Harden struggled in the previous game against the Chicago Bulls, shoting 4 of 17 from the field in a 126-112 loss. To be fair, the whole team scuffled in the surprising home setback.
Harden didn’t let the loss linger.
Philadelphia’s P.J. Tucker also sat out Sunday’s game with a non-COVID illness. Tucker, who has been hampered with a pinched nerve in his right hand, continues to receive physical therapy. His status for Tuesday also is to be determined.
The Pistons will look to avoid a third consecutive defeat when they visit Philadelphia.
Detroit is playing without Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, due to surgery on his left shin. Jalen Duren (ankle) and Marvin Bagley III (hand) were also out Sunday.
The result was another loss for the Pistons (11-32), who have the most losses of any team in the league.
Killian Hayes led the Pistons with 26 points and Bojan Bogdanovic added 20, but they were unable to overcome 23 turnovers that led to 23 Sixers points.
Already short-handed, the Pistons are fully aware that they must play a cleaner game at Philadelphia.
Perhaps a road game for the Pistons will help. They actually have more wins on the road (six) than they do at home (five).
While the season has been a struggle, coach Dwane Casey sees a glimmer of hope.
