Playing in the second game of a back-to-back, the Philadelphia 76ers (12-44) will travel to Milwaukee to face the Bucks (31-25) for the third time this season.
Heading into tonight’s game, both teams have been struggling as of late. Following an 87-71 loss Monday in Chicago, in which they shot only 33.7 percent from the field, the Bucks have dropped back-to-back games after winning nine of 10 and the Sixers have lost 12 of the past 19.
Listed as probable with a right foot strain, Michael Carter-Williams, who has missed his first three games with Milwaukee, could make his Bucks debut against his former team.
Milwaukee could desperately use his production. In his 111-game tenure with Philly, Carter-Williams averaged 16 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists.
Fortunately, a win seems likely against Philadelphia, which has been gutted and depleted as they traded several players in exchange for coveted draft picks. In addition, they are playing without their leading scorer Tony Wroten, who is out for the season following ACL surgery.
Philadelphia is coming off a 119-108 loss to the Miami Heat as Robert Covington, who is the team's leading scorer (13.2 ppg) with Carter-Williams traded and Wroten out, had 16 points, five steals, and zero turnovers while reserve Hollis Thompson scored 22 points in the loss.
The 76ers' struggles have been mostly at the defensive end of the floor lately. They've given up an average of 109.3 points on 50.4 percent shooting in their first three games since the trade deadline after allowing 90.8 points on 40.3 percent shooting in the prior eight.
Milwaukee has won the past four against the 76ers by an average of 15.5 points, and the Bucks are averaging 95.0 points on 47.0 percent shooting while Sixers are averaging 79.0 points on 33.7 percent shooting, including 7-of-48 from downtown in the season series.
The last time the Bucks and the Sixers played was on January 7. Milwaukee had one of its finest shooting performances of the season (53.3%) as it never trailed and won handily, 97-77. Philly did not get closer than 14 points in the second half and trailed by as many as 31. K.J. McDaniels led the Sixers with 14 points, while guards Brandon Knight and Khris Middleton both had 18 points for Milwaukee.
One player Philly needs to keep an eye on is O.J. Mayo, who is averaging 20.0 points on 58.3 percent shooting and has just one turnover this season against the Sixers.
Coming in with a 5-24 away record, the 76ers will have a difficult time snapping their abysmal road losing record. The Bucks are decent on their home court as they are 15-14 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Tip-off will be at 8 PM EST.