Sunday’s matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the visiting Los Angeles Clippers won’t unfold as Paul George had envisioned.
George, who signed a four-year, $212 million deal with the Sixers after five seasons with the Clippers, has seen his new team win only three of their first 15 games. Injuries have sidelined stars Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and George himself.
Embiid remains out with a knee injury, and George (hyperextended knee) will miss this game against his former team.
The Clippers, meanwhile, have experienced an up-and-down season, playing the entire campaign without two-way standout Kawhi Leonard (knee).
Los Angeles started the season 2-1, then lost three straight, won four in a row, lost another three, and have now won four consecutive games ahead of Sunday’s opener of a four-game road trip.
The Clippers announced over the weekend that Leonard would miss the entire trip, increasing the pressure on former Sixers guard James Harden, who averages 20.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and a team-high 8.8 assists.
Norman Powell, the Clippers’ leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, will miss his third consecutive game due to a hamstring issue.
Despite Powell’s absence, the Clippers won twice at home, including Friday’s 104-88 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Harden led the team with 22 points, while Ivica Zubac added 10 points and 15 rebounds.
After committing 22 turnovers in their win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, the Clippers reduced their turnovers to 12 against the Kings.
This will be crucial against a Philadelphia team that forced 19 turnovers in Friday’s 113-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Offensively, rookie Jared McCain and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey combined for 56 points, helping the Sixers snap a five-game losing streak.
McCain, who declared himself “Rookie of the Year” on camera in the fourth quarter, finished with 30 points, marking his seventh consecutive game with at least 20 points.
The teams previously met on November 6 in Los Angeles, where the Clippers secured a comfortable 110-98 win, led by Powell’s 26 points.
