Things are going very well at the moment for the Philadelphia 76ers. The team has won three straight games to move back up to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, clear of Play-In Tournament position. While doing poorly in NBA Cup play was kind of a bummer, it does now mean they have plenty of rest and a bit of an easier schedule in the coming weeks. Tyrese Maxey is getting First Team All-NBA buzz with his current high level of play. Paul George is playing fairly regularly and is coming off probably his best game of the season with 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in Friday’s win over the Bucks. The only fly in the ointment is the continued uncertain injury status surrounding Joel Embiid, but only having one enormous albatross contract right now feels like a relief.

The Sixers will look to keep the good times going tonight as they host the Los Angeles Lakers. JJ Redick and company are riding high themselves, currently sitting tied for second in the West, basically first in the tier that doesn’t include the Thunder club on pace for 70-plus wins. Los Angeles will get a boost tonight with Luka Doncic back in the lineup after missing time due to the birth of his second child. Between Luka and 27-year-old wing Austin Reaves, the Lakers have two players combining to average a ridiculous 65 points and 16 assists per game.

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That type of firepower on a roster including LeBron James feels strange, but King James finally seems to be nearing the end at 40 years of age. LeBron has only appeared in six games this season due to a sciatica issue. He was upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game, however. Marcus Smart is the only Laker listed as out due to a back issue.

On the Sixers’ side, Kelly Oubre Jr and Trendon Watford both remain out. Embiid was upgraded to questionable in the ever-present sage of ‘how do his knees feel this morning’, while George was downgraded to questionable, maybe erasing my optimism from the paragraph at the top. George has really upgraded the Sixers’ defense when he has been available, so not having him would be a tough blow towards slowing down a Lakers offense sporting the sixth-best offensive rating in the league.

Regardless of how many of the old guard will suit up for both clubs, we should be in store for a fun watch. Seeing Maxey and Doncic dueling on opposing sides is must-see TV. The rest of the Sixers guard rotation has performed well of late, with Jared McCain looking healthier and better conditioned coming off his injury layoff, VJ Edgecombe starting to regularly connect on explosive dunks, and Quentin Grimes fresh from his best shooting performance of the season, nailing 6-of-7 three-pointers in Milwaukee. With the Eagles on Monday night and the Flyers a matinee earlier in the day, Philadelphia sports fans can settle in for this Sixers team that has certainly provided its fair share of on-court excitement this season.

Game Details

When: Sunday, December 7, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers