SR – NBA Prime Time Preview: Los Angeles Clippers at Philadelphia 76ers
FeaturedKawhi Leonard makes his much-anticipated return Philadelphia with his Clippers squaring off against the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT, and it’s a city not quite filled up with the Brotherly love you’d expect. Leonard sets foot on that Wells Fargo hardwood to the chagrin of Sixers fans and patrons alike, mainly due to the team’s skidding down towards All-Star weekend, and also due to the return of the death-bringer of Philly’s playoff hopes just a couple of months ago in the Conference Semifinals, as Leonard was the lone Raptor to drill a fadeaway mid-range jumper in the last seconds of that decisive game 7 last year and etch these Sixers out of the title hunt.
This is the final game for the Sixers (not for Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, to be exact, since they’ll be participating in this weekend’s festivities) until the All-Star break, and Philly has arguably one of their toughest games on the schedule this Tuesday night, as the 3rd best team in the Western Conference coasts into Philadelphia, looking for their 38th win of the season. It is yet to be determined if they can finish their turbulent February strong, or if they’re to take their third loss at home for the year.
And what better measuring stick to see how close these 76ers are to looking like championship contenders than a four-quarter duel against their old Atlantic Division rival in Leonard and his Clippers. Expect to hear some discontent Philly fans in the Wells Fargo express themselves with boos and obscenities whenever Leonard touches the rock, but also expect to hear some cheers and favorable applause toward two returning former 76ers in Landry Shamet (traded in last year’s trade deadline for Tobias Harris) and Lou Williams.
As it goes for Philly, they’re starting to turn the corner and gain some momentum heading into the break. After dropping four-straight games on the road over the last week, the Sixers picked up a set of back to back wins over Memphis and Chicago at home. Those weren’t serious playoff contenders, but still impressive considering these Sixers have upheld a 24-2 record on home court.
Now, we will see if they can maintain it with a healthy Clippers team coming into Philadelphia ticked off from their weird 24-point loss to the Timberwolves last week, especially now that some new faces in Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks will finally see minutes in another uniform different than the Golden State blue and gold they donned before last Thursday’s deadline.
