The Philadelphia 76ers welcome the Washington Wizards to Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM ET. Philadelphia enters at 23-49, while Washington is 15-56. Both teams are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
Both squads have lost five straight games and are dealing with major injury issues. This is the second meeting of the season between them. The 76ers won the first matchup 109-103 back on January 8. Washington hasn’t beaten Philadelphia since 2022, with the Sixers winning six straight in the series.
76ers Preview – Short-Handed Group Tries to Snap Losing Streak
Philadelphia is down most of its key players. Joel Embiid, Paul George, Eric Gordon, and several others are all out. Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, and Andre Drummond are day-to-day with lingering issues. The 76ers are relying on younger players to carry the load.
Justin Edwards and Jared Butler each scored 19 points in Monday’s loss to the Pelicans. Butler has stepped up since joining the team and nearly tied his season high of 21. Rookie Chuma Okeke and big man Guerschon Yabusele also start and contribute on both ends of the court.
Philadelphia is just 12-22 at home and ranks near the bottom of the league in both field goal defense and rebounding. Despite the injuries, the 76ers have been playing hard and getting balanced scoring. Coach Nick Nurse said he’s proud of how the group has competed through a tough road trip and hopes returning home will give them a lift.
Wizards Preview – Youth Movement Continues in Washington
The Wizards come in with the worst record in the NBA. They’ve lost 12 of their last 13 games. Injuries have forced Washington to give extended minutes to its younger players, and the focus has shifted toward development.
Jordan Poole led the team with 23 points in Monday’s loss to Toronto. Bub Carrington added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Rookie AJ Johnson had 17 points and has seen more playing time recently with Kyshawn George out due to an ankle injury.
Washington is just 8-28 on the road this season and ranks 29th in the league in scoring. They also rank last in field goal percentage and three-point shooting. Coach Brian Keefe continues to give younger players like Alexandre Sarr and Ryan Rollins big minutes to evaluate them for the future.
Key Players to Watch
Jared Butler has been the best player for Philadelphia during this losing stretch. Since joining the team from Washington, he’s taken on a scoring role and is also helping with ball handling. Justin Edwards has also provided steady offense and looks to continue his growth.
For Washington, Jordan Poole remains the top scoring option with Lillard and others out. Bub Carrington has become a reliable presence at guard, especially on the boards. AJ Johnson’s role is expanding, and he gives the Wizards a much-needed energy boost off the bench.
Neither team has much size left in the lineup, so rebounding could be a key factor. G.Yabusele had 7 rebounds last game for Philly, while Sarr had 5 boards and 3 blocks for Washington. The team that controls the paint may have the edge in this one.
Stat Breakdown and Team Comparison
Washington ranks 27th in scoring at 108.6 points per game. They are bottom-five in field goal and three-point shooting. Philadelphia isn’t much better, averaging just 109.8 points over their last five and allowing 115.6 per game on the season.
Both teams are also among the worst in defensive rebounding. The 76ers do a better job forcing turnovers, ranking 2nd in the league. The Wizards are 27th in turnovers and 30th in defensive rebounds, which leads to second-chance points for opponents.
The over/under for this game is set at 230.5, and both teams have trended over the total. Philadelphia games have gone over in 54 of their last 89, while Washington has hit the over in four of their last six road games.
Betting Prediction
The 76ers are favored by 2.5 points at home. Both teams are on losing streaks and missing key players. Philadelphia has the edge in recent head-to-head results and has played slightly better at home than Washington has on the road.
This is likely to be a close game between two short-handed teams. Philadelphia’s defense and slightly deeper bench should help them pull away late. Final score prediction is 112-108 in favor of the 76ers.
Pick: 76ers -2.5
