As the Brooklyn Nets begin a road swing on Friday with a visit to Philadelphia, the host 76ers are ending one of their own swings away from home that went poorly for the sputtering club.
The 76ers into Friday’s NBA Cup East: Group A matchup against the Nets on a five-game losing streak, including all three in the Sixers’ just-completed three-game road trip. The journey ended on Wednesday in a 117-111 loss at Memphis, despite 2023 MVP Joel Embiid playing his best game of the season.
Embiid finished with game highs of 35 points and 11 rebounds in his fourth contest since rejoining the Sixers lineup, after missing the first nine games with a lingering knee injury.
Philadelphia is winless in Embiid’s four appearances, have only two wins this season and none in NBA Cup action. The Sixers opened group play with a 111-99 loss to the New York Knicks on Nov. 12, followed by a 98-86 road loss to the Orlando Magic on Nov. 15.
Philadelphia is now also dealing with another knee injury to a key player, as Paul George left Wednesday’s game with a hyperextension.
“Similar to the preseason,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said, referring to an injury George sustained in October. “We’re going to find out more (Thursday) when (the medical staff) checks it out to see what the extent of it is.”
Nurse said George’s injury may be akin to a bone bruise, which would not require a lengthy absence. Still, the team is awaiting more details ahead of Friday’s return home.
“You never know what happens,” Nurse said. “He was actually fairly close to coming back in the game but then it stiffened up as he got out a little bit more, so we decided not to.”
Amid the rash of injuries and roster tumult, rookie Jared McCain is emerging as a bright spot in the Sixers’ dismal start. Wednesday’s 20-point performance marked the guard’s sixth consecutive game scoring 20-plus points.
McCain has made at least three 3-pointers in all six of those contests, while he averaged 25.5 points.
The Nets ended a three-game losing streak Tuesday and improved to 1-1 in the NBA Cup, with a 116-115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Cam Johnson scored 34 points, while Trendon Watford hit a jumper with 38 seconds remaining that gave the Nets necessary breathing room down the stretch.
Watford finished with 10 points over 19 minutes in just his second game back from a hamstring injury sustained in training camp.
“Very happy that he had the game that he had, but that to me is the definition of a team,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said. “Our medical staff worked hard to get him back healthy. We’ve got to trust the group, because they do a great job, and this is the result. It’s a win for everybody.”
Nets point guard Dennis Schroder continued his run of solid two-way play at point guard in Tuesday’s win. With his 14 points and 12 assists against Charlotte, Schroder is averaging 17.8 points and 6.5 assists in 15 games (all starts).