After a narrow victory over the Washington Wizards, the Eastern Conference’s bottom team, the Philadelphia 76ers are set to face another struggling opponent, the New Orleans Pelicans, at home on Friday. The Sixers held off a late surge from the Wizards on Wednesday, eventually sealing a 109-103 win.
Despite missing key players like Joel Embiid (foot), Paul George (groin), and Kyle Lowry (hip), Philadelphia managed to scrape through, thanks to Tyrese Maxey’s crucial layup with 23.7 seconds left. This win evened their home stand record to 1-1.
The Pelicans, on the other hand, have had a rough season so far. With Zion Williamson sidelined for 27 games due to a hamstring strain, his recent return saw him score 22 points in a 104-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, without Williamson, Trey Murphy III (ankle), and Brandon Ingram (ankle), the Pelicans were heavily defeated by the Portland Trail Blazers, 119-100, highlighting their struggles.
Adding to their woes, defensive asset Herb Jones had to exit early due to a shoulder injury, making his availability for Friday’s game uncertain. The Pelicans are embarking on a three-game road trip, with Friday’s game in Philadelphia being their first stop before heading to face the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls.
For the Sixers, this matchup is a crucial opportunity to gain momentum, especially with a challenging stretch of games ahead including clashes against the Thunder, Knicks, Pacers, Bucks, Nuggets, and the league-leading Cavaliers.
Friday’s game marks the first encounter of the season between the Sixers and Pelicans, with a rematch scheduled in New Orleans on March 24.
