Game Preview: Sixers vs Kings
Two in a row, that is the Sixers’ current winning streak as they’ve taken the first two games of this seven-game homestay. They will try to extend it to three as they welcome the visiting Sacramento Kings to town. The Kings come into South Philly with a 14-11 record, while the Sixers are 14-12 after taking down the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. Joel Embiid recorded yet another dominating, superstar performance as he recorded a 53-point double-double, also collecting 12 rebounds.
This marks the second time this season that the five-time All-Star has hit the 50-point total. One month ago today, the big man dropped a career-high 59 on the Utah Jazz. Versus the Hornets, he was 20 for 32 from the floor and made 2 of 3 from the three-point line, while converting all 11 of his free throws. Embiid is the first 76er to hit 50-plus multiple times in a season since Allen Iverson did so three times during the 2004-05 campaign, according to Stathead. Embiid now averages 33.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists through 18 games played.
The Kings are in the middle of a six-game road trip winning just one of three so far, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 9th, but falling to Milwaukee and the latest loss on Sunday in New York against the Knicks, 112-99. Center Domantas Sabonis led the way with a team-high 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Rookie Keegan Murray added 18 on 6 for 15 shooting, making 3 of 8 from beyond with seven boards. Offseason acquisition Kevin Huerter netted 17, including five rebounds and six assists – while forward Harrison Barnes scored 15. The leading scorer on the season for Sacramento is sixth-year guard De’Aaron Fox, pacing them with 22 points a night, adding five rebounds and five assists. He missed the games versus the Knicks because of right foot soreness.
New head coach Mike Brown really has this team playing well while trying to build a new culture with the organization and so far, the returns have been very good as they position themselves as a possible playoff contender in the tough Western Conference. As a team, the Kings are second in the NBA in scoring as they pile up 118 points per contest, trailing only the Boston Celtics. But rank 20th in the league allowing 115 a night. This team certainly likes to push the pace and put points on the board. The offense is there, tonight we’ll see if the defense can hold up in Philadelphia.
The Sixers have taken the last seven against the Kings, winners of their last four as they’ve hosted them at The Center. Game two of this two-game series will be on January 21st in Sacramento.
