The Philadelphia 76ers’ best players have the team moving in the right direction at the right time.
When the teams meet on Friday night in Charlotte, N.C., the 76ers and the Charlotte Hornets might meet at a good time as well. Both teams’ most recent games were against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On Sunday and Tuesday, the Hornets lost to the Cavaliers in home games. The 76ers came back to win 118-109 at Cleveland on Wednesday night, making it their sixth win in a row.
In that game, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid scored 36 points, and James Harden added 28.
Philadelphia began a streak of seven road games in an eight-game stretch with a trip to Cleveland.
Doc Rivers, the 76ers’ coach, stated that the team cannot afford errors like the 18 turnovers at Cleveland.
Mark Williams, a rookie center, may be out for the rest of the season after injuring his right thumb last week. Taking into account his quick advancement since the exchange of Bricklayer Plumlee, that is an impressive blow and leaves Charlotte considerably more slender in the post.
Dealing with Embiid, who has already been a big problem for the Hornets this season, could be difficult because of that.
There is no easy way out of Charlotte’s playoff situation.
The fact that Oubre scored 28 points on Tuesday night after returning from a one-game absence is perhaps the most encouraging development for the Hornets this week. He missed a game because of a sore back, but when he was healthy, he was productive. Five of his last seven games have seen him score 25 or more points.
Clifford gave backcourt mate Terry Rozier high marks.
In their last two games, the Hornets have turned the ball over 19 times. However, Oubre stated that the Hornets are best suited for fast-paced play.
Oubre has been Charlotte’s driving scorer in the last seven games wherein he has played.
The Hornets have lost five consecutive games at home, including the first three of their five-game homestand this season. Six of Philadelphia’s last seven road games have been victories.
On Nov. 23, the Hornets defeated Philadelphia at home 107-101, while the 76ers defeated the Hornets 131-113 on Dec. 11. In the second meeting, Embiid put together a 53-point effort.
