Sixers vs. Kings Preview: The Battle Of The Pick Swap

Remember the Sixers-Kings game that got cancelled due to a wet court at The Center earlier this season? That tilt is now set to take place tonight; exactly two months after the original Nov. 30 game date. (Note that tonight’s game has a special start time: 6:00 PM instead of the regular 7:00 PM start.)

Thanks to this scheduling snafu, both the Sixers and the Kings are playing their third game in four days. The Sixers, unlike the Kings, are also coming off a back-to-back having played and lost to the Bulls in Chicago on Sunday evening.

Philadelphia will be looking to break their two-game losing streak tonight. It might not be so easy, though. Sacramento is 3-1 in their last four games with road wins over the Pistons, Hornets, and Cavaliers (thanks for nothing, LeBron). The Kings have fared pretty well since Rudy Gay got hurt.

The Sixers lost a close battle (102-100) to the Kings earlier this season when the two teams played in Sacramento. That was a pretty fun game thanks to the battle of two of the league’s brightest young big man stars: Joel Embiid and DeMarcus Cousins. Jojo dropped 25 points and pulled down 8 boards that evening while Boogie finished with 30 and 7. There was also an epic battle of butt slaps.

It remains to be seen if Embiid will play on Monday evening. Following Sunday’s game, Brett Brown said the Sixers’ best player is questionable to play against the Kings.

It’s worth noting Embiid has played every time he’s been listed as questionable. But Embiid admitted he had to convince the Sixers’ medical staff to let him play through a bone bruise on Friday night against the Rockets.

Here’s hoping Embiid does play tonight. The Sixers are so much better and, quite frankly, so much more enjoyable to watch when he’s on the court. The friendly rivalry he has with Boogie Cousins is also a delight.

A Sixers win tonight would be great. Not only would it put Philly closer to an improbable playoff push, but it also nudges the Kings towards higher lottery odds. Sacramento, with 19 wins, currently sits 10th in the lottery standings. The Sixers are fifth with 17 victories on the season.

UPDATE: Soooo ... Embiid won’t be playing tonight. That sucks.

The Enemy

Sactown Royalty

Prediction

Sixers win, 100-99

Game Info

Tip is at 6:00 PM ET. The Sixers are home. Game thread will be up at 5:30 - join us! Watch the game on CSN Philly.