The Sixers look to snap a four-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Lakers

On By Littum

The Philadelphia 76ers fell to the LA Clippers on Wednesday night and now turn their attention to Los Angeles Lakers hoping to secure their second win of the season. This game will mark the second of three contests that Joel Embiid will serve for his suspension. With Tyrese Maxey also dealing with a tight hamstring and set to miss time, the Sixers could find themselves without two-thirds of their Big 3 for this matchup.

So far, the Sixers have drastically underwhelmed — even by their standards without Embiid. The offense is often stagnant and the rotation is a work in progress, with several players having drastic minute swings. Assuming Maxey isn’t good to go, guys like Kyle Lowry, Jared McCain and even Reggie Jackson will have to step up.

Outside of guard play, this will likely be another game where they rely heavily on Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele. Anthony Davis didn’t suit up for the Lakers’ last game due to an ankle injury, but if he does (he’s listed as probable), Drummond will see heavy playing time. If Davis doesn’t play, the Sixers could turn to Yabusele — who had a season-low 10 minutes last game against the Clippers. Beyond Davis, the Lakers don’t have much frontcourt depth, with guys like Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes being their only options.

On the other side of the court, the Los Angeles Lakers have been solid under their new head coach, JJ Redick. They can boast of one top-10 offense so far on the season, though their defense is lagging, ranking just 28th in the league. The Sixers, by comparison, are 26th in offensive rating and 22nd in defense. Not ideal!

This game, like the Clippers’ game, has the potential to set the team in the right direction moving forward. They have two more games without Embiid against the Lakers and Charlotte Hornets. Both could be won if Paul George rounds on form, though facing Davis and LeBron James will be daunting. Two wins would put their season record at 3-6, an early season hole but not deep.

Can the Sixers get their first win in November without some of their big names? Let’s find out.

Game details

WHO: Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers
When: 10 p.m. ET
Where: Cyrpto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Clock: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers