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Both the Sixers and Bulls will be shorthanded on Saturday, as Joel Embiid, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic all remain out.<\/em>
The first chapter of the Sixers<\/a>\u2019 2023-24 campaign couldn\u2019t have gone much better. Joel Embiid is somehow even better than when he won MVP just months ago, Tyrese Maxey is a genuine star, the team has the best wing depth it\u2019s had in years, and Nick Nurse\u2019s revamped offense with more creative movement and passing has been elite.
Now, at 22-9 and third place in the Eastern Conference, it\u2019s time for the Sixers\u2019 final game of 2023, as they head to Chicago to face the Bulls.
Zach LaVine is still the biggest absence for Chicago. He\u2019s been out since Nov. 30 with a foot injury and remains sidelined for Saturday. Nikola Vucevic also remains out after missing the last two games with a groin strain. Along with Lonzo Ball who\u2019s out for the season, Torrey Craig (right plantar fascia) is also out, while Patrick Williams (right ankle sprain) and Jevon Carter (right ankle sprain) are listed as probable.
For the Sixers, Nick Nurse confirmed on Friday that Embiid won\u2019t be playing against the Bulls as he continues recovering from his right ankle sprain.
The Sixers are coming into Saturday on the back of two solid wins without Embiid \u2014 their first victories of the season when the big fella has been out. First, a comfortable 112-92 win against the 19-12 Magic<\/a>, followed by a 131-127 win against the Rockets on Friday<\/a>. Despite the latter being a bit close for comfort, it\u2019s still a win on the road powered by a stellar 42-point performance from Maxey, supported by valuable contributions (and some big late plays) from guys like Marcus Morris and Patrick Beverley<\/a>. Credit to Tobias Harris as well for showing up at both ends of the floor with 22 points, seven assists, four steals and three blocks. You happily take that result when your best player\u2019s out.
Meanwhile, the Bulls have some issues even when fully healthy. But without LaVine they\u2019ve struggled recently and their offensive rating has slipped to 23rd in the league. They now sit at just 14-19 and 10th place in the East.
Without Embiid, the Sixers\u2019 smaller frontcourt rotation will be led by Paul Reed, who continues to turn in solid performances and tallied 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks against Orlando. Andre Drummond has been starting in Vucevic\u2019s place, so will provide a bit more strength for Reed to compete with on the glass, but the Bulls have been downsizing more behind Drummond with their bench rotation.
fancy ball Paul. pic.twitter.com\/9AfxkJOWdJ<\/a>
Alex Caruso has been starting while LaVine has been out, and continues to excel as one of the NBA\u2019s top defenders and all-around impactful role players. Maxey wasn\u2019t at his best when the Sixers last played Chicago, and it\u2019ll be interesting to see how the two face off on Saturday.
Coby White can\u2019t be underestimated either. We all know DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls\u2019 leading scorer at 22.3 points per game, is the top assignment for De\u2019Anthony Melton and the Sixers\u2019 wings, but White is having a career year. He\u2019s fairly effective attacking the rim and is primarily thriving as a high-volume shooter, upping his three-point attempts to 7.4 per game while making 39.5 percent of them (both numbers are career-highs). All together, he\u2019s averaging career-bests in points (17.6), rebounds (4.2) and assists (4.9) per game.
White even dropped 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting, eight rebounds and nine assists when these teams last played on Dec. 18.
The Sixers lost by four points in their last matchup against the Bulls. They suffered from a measly three-point performance from Harris and a cool-ish shooting night from Maxey (9-of-23), as the Bulls had six double-digit scorers and shot 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from deep.
Playing shorthanded on the second night of a back-to-back makes this game more of a challenge. But Maxey and the team\u2019s supporting cast have stepped up the last two games without Embiid. If they can do so again, there\u2019s no reason they can\u2019t beat a depleted Bulls squad to end 2023 with a win.
Who: <\/strong>Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls
When: <\/strong>8:00 pm EST
Where: <\/strong>United Center, Chicago, IL
Watch:<\/strong> NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio:<\/strong> 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow:<\/strong> @LibertyBallers<\/strong><\/a>
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