Game Preview: Sixers at Wolves
After several games on the road, it’s the final run of the team’s five-game roadie for the 76ers. They conclude the trip in Minneapolis vs the Wolves. The Sixers are searching for win number four on the road before returning to Philadelphia for two games this weekend.
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The Sixers are back to 20 games over .500 at 42-22 after Monday night’s 147-143 win over the Indiana Pacers. Improving their road record to 18-12 and remaining in the 3rd seed in the East. Philadelphia has won two in a row and are two games behind the 2nd seeded Boston Celtics. Four back of the Milwaukee Bucks who occupy the top spot. The Timberwolves are currently sixth in the West with a 34-23 record, 20-14 at home. Minnesota has won their last three games.
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The Wolves have won their last three games, the latest being a high-scoring contest over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, 138-134. All-Star guard Anthony Edwards led seven double-figure scorers with a team-high 27 points. Point guard Mike Conley, who was acquired at the trade deadline, added 24 as he hit four 3’s. Jaden McDaniels, who is the brother of Sixers wing Jalen, netted 19 on 8 of 11 shooting. It should be fun to see those two brothers match up at some point tonight. Minnesota shot 60 percent from the floor, 51 percent from long distance.
Tonight is the final contest of the Sixers-Timberwolves two-game series. The first matchup took place in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 19th with the 76ers falling 112-109. This game had a lot of intrigue down the stretch as the 76ers trailed by as much as 15 in the fourth but fought their way back with an opportunity to win the game. De’Anthony Melton hit a three-pointer with 29 seconds to play on the game clock, cutting the lead to one at 110-109.
The Wolves inbounded the ball and Edwards brought the ball up the floor, Melton stole the ball at midcourt with 14 seconds to play, racing towards the basket for a layup attempt that didn’t go. Rebound to the Wolves, Edwards made two free throws to push the lead to three – the Sixers had a last-second three-point attempt by Georges Niang fall short to secure the win for Minnesota. Embiid led all scorers with 32, Shake Milton added 27 and Melton contributed 19, including five made 3’s. James Harden and Tyrese Maxey both missed the first game due to their foot injuries.
James Harden (left foot soreness), Tobias Harris (calf) and PJ Tucker (back spasms) are all listed as questionable for tonight’s game
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Jeff McLane On What Free Agents Will Be Back For The Eagles
Javon Hargrave
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“He will be one of the top Defensive Interior Linemen in this free-agency group. I wonder if they will be able to afford him. He’s younger than Fletcher Cox. So I think the Eagles will make more of an effort to retain Hargrave than Cox. Although if Cox is going to take less. And that’s within their structure of what they want to do in terms of the cap and maybe that’s that’s who they end up bringing back. But I think they prioritize Hargrave… I think he will be priority number one on the defensive side of the ball.”
Brandon Graham
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
“Brandon may just step in and say, hey, let’s do this. Let’s get this done. He had a good year. The fewer snaps probably benefited him. And that’s what’s going to have to happen here if you’re going to come back. I mean, my expectation going into all this was that Graham would definitely be back. But I don’t think it’s like 100% solid.”
CJ Gardner-Johnson
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
“He can’t bring everybody back. He’s lowered the expectations by saying that. That being said, he still has room here. He still has a lot of maneuverings and he’s got savvy guys who know how to work this out and make it so that they can retain a few of those guys. And to me, Hargrave and C.J. are probably the two guys that they will prioritize.”
TJ Edwards and Kyzir White
(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
“I don’t know if T.J. is going to break the bank on the open market, but he had a good year. Not a great Super Bowl, but he had a good overall year, and is important to what the Eagles do… That being said, they don’t have a lot of money. They’re going have to prioritize certain positions, and linebackers, are typically not one they prioritize.. It’s possible they don’t bring back either of those guys.”
James Bradberry
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
“He’s going to want to get paid. I mean this is what’s going to happen. These guys are saying when you talk to them that they want to return. But I mean, when it comes down to it, ultimately they’re going to get where they’re going to go where they get top dollar. And I think that’s going to be the case with James Bradberry.”
