Game Preview–Sixers at Pelicans
After having their season-long 8-game win streak snapped, the 76ers travel to the Big Easy to face the best team in the West in the second to last game of 2022
The fifth seed is where the 76ers remain in the East standings. They are 4 and a half games out of first place with the rival Celtics occupying the top spot. Brooklyn is riding an NBA-best 10-game win streak that has them in the two-seed. And Milwaukee is third, with Cleveland holding just a half-game lead over the Sixers for fourth in the standings.
An active four-game win streak for New Orleans after a one-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night at home. Down by 11 at the half, the Pelicans were led by Zion Williamson’s 33-point second-half outburst, helping his team to a 119-118 win. Williamson had a game and career-high 43 on the night. The former no.1 overall pick scored the team’s final 14 points in 2 minutes, 14 seconds, including knocking down his only three-point attempt of the evening. The talented forward leads New Orleans in scoring at 25.8 points per game, adding seven rebounds and 4.7 assists through 26 games.
The 22-year-old did receive help from his teammates as five posted in double figures. Second-year man Trey Murphy finished second in scoring in a starting role with 21 while going 5 for 6 from deep, veteran guard CJ McCollum added 20 with a team-best six assists — 12 each from Naji Marshall and center Jonas Valanciunas. The big man also collected a game-high 11 boards for the Pels in victory. One-time All-Star forward Brandon Ingram has not played since November 25th while dealing with a toe injury, missing the last 15 games for head coach Willie Green’s team.
The Pelicans come into tonight’s contest tied for first place in the West, again with a 22-12 record, 15-4 at home. They rank 3rd in scoring in the NBA at 117.8, 5th with close to 27 assists per and get to the foul line just under 26 times per game. As mentioned earlier, this will be the first of a two-game series between the Sixers and Pelicans, the second will be on Monday, January 2nd back here in Philadelphia. The 76ers swept the season series last campaign.
