The Philadelphia 76ers will look to rebound from a disappointing start to their three-game homestand as they host the struggling Washington Wizards on Wednesday.
Philadelphia returned home after a successful six-game road trip, winning four games against Boston, Utah, Portland, San Antonio, and Charlotte. The Sixers closed out December on a high note, but have stumbled since the calendar flipped to 2025, dropping three of their last four games. This includes a 109-99 loss to Phoenix in their latest homecoming game on Monday. Tyrese Maxey was a bright spot, recording his fourth 30-point double-double of the season with 31 points and 10 assists.
Despite dealing with several key absences, the Sixers are 11-7 over their recent stretch and are vying for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. Joel Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA MVP, has been limited by a foot injury, missing his 21st game of the season on Monday. Veterans Andre Drummond (toe) and Kyle Lowry (hip) also missed the Phoenix matchup, contributing to the team’s challenges.
On the other hand, the Washington Wizards enter Philadelphia with their own set of injury woes. In Tuesday’s 135-112 blowout loss to Houston, Washington was without leading scorer Jordan Poole (hip) and Malcolm Brogdon (foot). The team has also been missing Marvin Bagley III due to a knee injury, with no set timetable for his return.
Washington’s struggles extend beyond injuries; the Wizards have the worst record in the NBA and are on a three-game losing streak, having dropped five of their last six games. Despite these difficulties, Kyle Kuzma showed some promise with a season-high 28 points in a recent loss to New Orleans. Corey Kispert also provided a spark against Houston, scoring 23 points and hitting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.
