Lakers (16–6) at Sixers (13–9) | Game 23 of 82
Where to Watch and What Time
📅 Date: Sunday, Dec. 7
⏰ Tip-off: 4:30 p.m. PST
📍 Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena — Philadelphia, PA
📺 TV: Spectrum SportsNet
📻 Radio: ESPN LA 710 / 1330 KWKW
The Lakers head to Philadelphia following a woeful 126-105 loss in Boston on Friday, a game that lacked energy and, well, the high-level basketball the Lakers have played for the most part this season.
In that game, Los Angeles was without Luka Dončić, who was out of the states welcoming his new baby girl in his home country, and LeBron James, who has still not played in the latter game of L.A.’s back-to-backs this season.
Good news for the Lakers: the No. 1 scorer (35.3 ppg), Dončić, will be making his much-needed return to the starting lineup.
The Lakers dropped to 16-6 and now face a Sixers team that has won four of its last five games, boosting a 13-9 record (sixth in the East).
The Sixers are coming off a 116-101 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, marking Philadelphia’s third straight win. The Sixers have been a better road team than at home, with a 6-3 record on the road and a 7-6 record at home.
The Lakers are 9-3 on the road and snapped four straight road wins in Boston.
Since entering the league in 2020, Tyrese Maxey has improved his scoring average higher and higher each season for this Sixers team. From averaging eight points in his rookie year, he is now—in year six—the NBA’s third-highest scorer with 31.6 points a game.
In 22 games, he has three 40-point games and even a career-high 54 points in an overtime win over the Bucks. Maxey also leads this Philadelphia team in assists at 7.1 a game. Containing him and forcing his teammates to score will be a key for the Lakers’ game plan.
For the Sixers, losing their veteran stars, Paul George and Joel Embiid, to nagging injuries has been a significant issue contributing to their lack of noise in the East over the last couple of seasons.
George (seven games) and Embiid (eight games) have only appeared in 15 games combined this season. George has averaged 14 points in seven games, while Embiid has notched 18.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. Both are questionable for Sunday.
The Sixers’ rookie VJ Edgecombe has quickly shown why he was the No. 3 overall pick out of Baylor. Edgecombe has brought a strong scoring punch and athleticism alongside Maxey that have made them one of the NBA’s top young backcourts.
He’s averaged 14.3 points in 19 games (19 starts), which ranks fourth among rookies.
Notable Opponent Ranks Among the NBA
16th in offensive rating + 13th in defensive rating
6th in field goal attempts (90.7) and 20th in FG percentage (46%)
14th in 3-point percentage (36%)
No. 1 team in the NBA in blocks per game (6.2)
7th in fast break points (17.2 per contest)
Paul George (knee): Day-to-day
Joel Embiid (knee): Day-to-day
Kelly Oubre Jr (knee): Out
The Lakers will rock their white threads on the road, while the Sixers will wear their black Icon Edition unis.
The Lakers will travel back to L.A. for their quarterfinal NBA Cup game against the Spurs on Dec. 10.