The last time the Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers squared off, Joel Embiid was not available.
The result of that mid-November matchup was a 120-85 romp by the Jazz. You can usually expect a blowout like that when a team is without its best player. Not to mention defensive ace Matisse Thybulle also missed the action as he and Embiid were in the league's health and safety protocols.
The Sixers will try to avenge that loss and aim for a fourth consecutive win when they host the Jazz tomorrow, 7:00 AM on NBA TV Philippines via Smart GigaPlay app or Cignal TV.
Both teams are on the tail end of back-to-back matches and are hoping that fatigue won't be a critical factor.
Embiid and the Sixers are fresh off a fierce battle against the Charlotte Hornets. The big man's 32 points and eight rebounds paved the way for a 110-106 victory. It was the second meeting in three days between the Sixers and Hornets, with Embiid being the difference-maker in both games. In their first matchup last Tuesday that ended up going into overtime, Embiid dropped 43 points, 15 boards, and seven assists. The Philadelphia star has been on a tear as of late.
The Sixers have been in an uphill battle with regards to players missing time. Even the dependable Tyrese Maxey recently returned to the lineup after missing his first game of the season because of an illness. From COVID-19 issues to injuries, and of course, the Ben Simmons situation hanging over them, the team has not enjoyed the same success that they had last season when they finished as the top seed.
The Jazz, meanwhile, cruised to their fifth straight victory with a 32-point rout over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Donovan Mitchell scored 36 points to lead the way and Bojan Bogdanovic added 21 points.
Despite a 17-7 record, the Jazz have been under the radar this season because the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns are on a rampage. However, the Jazz are still very much the Jazz who ended up at the top of the standings heading into last season’s playoffs with 52 regular-season wins. Their recent postseason woes might put them as an afterthought for most fans, but they are still a strong contender.
Can the Sixers get back at the Jazz and win their fourth straight or will it be Utah's streak of five games that will extend?
