The Philadelphia 76ers are trending in the right direction, but they could face a tough challenge when they host Domantas Sabonis and the visiting Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
The Sixers have struggled with rebounding, ranking last in the NBA with fewer than 40 rebounds per game. They are likely to be without center Joel Embiid (knee), forward Paul George (finger), and rebounding specialist Andre Drummond (toe) once again.
This leaves undersized center Guerschon Yabusele and energetic rookie Adem Bona to contend with Sabonis, the league’s leading rebounder with 14.6 rebounds per game. Sabonis has been on a remarkable run, pulling down double-digit rebounds in 23 consecutive games and achieving this feat in 41 of 43 games this season. He posted a triple-double with 21 points, 22 rebounds, and 10 assists in Sacramento’s 110-96 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.
Sabonis, who made 8 of 10 field-goal attempts, became only the second player in NBA history to record a 20-point, 20-rebound triple-double while shooting at least 80 percent from the field, joining Wilt Chamberlain in this exclusive club.
Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox contributed 30 points, seven assists, and no turnovers against Brooklyn after a rough six-game stretch with a shooting percentage of 31.8 percent. Despite trade rumors, Fox has been a key player for the Kings, with his best game of the season coming on New Year’s Day against the Sixers, scoring 35 points on 13-of-16 shooting in the Kings’ 113-107 home win. Sabonis added 17 points, 21 rebounds, and seven assists in that game.
Philadelphia has shown signs of resurgence over the past week, with a hard-fought win over the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by double-digit victories over the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. In their 118-104 triumph over the Lakers on Tuesday, Tyrese Maxey scored 43 points, and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 20 points. The Sixers played without Embiid, George, and Drummond but managed to grab 14 steals and end the Lakers’ four-game winning streak. LeBron James tallied 31 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds but committed eight turnovers.
