Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers have been maintaining a steady position at the third seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they have been suffering from a slight rough patch lately. The Sixers have gone on a 5-5 run in their last 10 games. It will be interesting to see how well they perform against their next opponents while they are on a three-game losing streak.
BIG 3 from Rese! pic.twitter.com/X6qMKGtSJx
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 11, 2024
The Sacramento Kings have solidified themselves as a top title contender out of the Western Conference. While several teams in the West have portrayed fluctuating versions of the themselves, the Kings have shown more consistency over the years. They are currently ranked fifth in the West with a record of 23 wins and 14 losses. The Sixers will host the Kings at the Wells Fargo Center tonight.
Joel Embiid has been ruled out of the Sixers vs. Kings game
The reigning League MVP has been the best player on the Sixers roster by a mile. However, Embiid has not participated with the team in their last two games. The Sixers have listed Embiid out of their upcoming game while he still recovers from his knee injury. He was diagnosed with knee inflammation but the Sixers have slowly started to allow him to get back on the court.
Joel Embiid is wearing a wrap around his knee 😔
pic.twitter.com/xPzflx0gSX— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) January 8, 2024
The Sixers will not have Robert Covington on the court against the Kings. The forward has also been dealing with knee inflammation. Kenneth Lofton Jr. will also miss the game due to a AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. While the Sixers will compete without a couple of keys players, the Kings are way more healthier. They only have Kevin Heurter listed on the injury report. He is questionable for tonight’s game.
Philadelphia 76ers Injury Report:
- Kenneth Lofton Jr. (Out)
- Robert Covington (Out)
- Joel Embiid (Out)
Philadelphia 76ers Expected Lineup:
- Tyrese Maxey
- De’Anthony Melton
- Tobias Harris
- Nicolas Batum
- Paul Reed
Sacramento Kings Injury Report:
- Kevin Heurter (Questionable)
Sacramento Kings Expected Lineup:
- De’Aaron Fox
- Malik Monk
- Harrison Barnes
- Keegan Murray
- Domantas Sabonis
Will the Sixers surpass the Kings without Joel Embiid?
Without Joel Embiid, the Sixers have taken quite the beating over the last couple of games. After missing out on two games, the Sixers have dropped from being one of top teams in points allowed in the NBA. However, Maxey and Harris are coming off incredibly strong games. Maxey has been averaging 26.2 points consistently which has helped the team. Harris scored 32 points with 10 rebounds and 4 assists in his last game.
Domantas Sabonis’ NBA ranks:
▪️ Rebounds: 1st
▪️ Rebounds per game: 1st
▪️ Double-doubles: 1st
▪️ Triple-doubles: 2nd
▪️ 20/10/5 games: 3rd
▪️ Assists: 6th
▪️ Win Shares: 7th
▪️ Assists per game: 8th
▪️ FG%: 9thThe fan vote isn’t reflective of how great Sabonis has been. pic.twitter.com/2rN2WQ4OJR
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) January 11, 2024
Domantas Sabonis has been working through one of his best seasons averaging 20.2 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game. Him and Fox has been working wonders for the team as well. Fox has dropped from averaging over 30 points per game, but only to allow Sabonis and other players to take up more responsibility on the court. The Kings have a better chance at winning this game.
