Sixers-Lakers 5 things: First look at struggling rookie Brandon Ingram

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The Sixers (6-19) continue their homestand against the reeling Los Angeles Lakers (10-18) at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night (8 p.m./CSN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports app).

Let's take a closer look at the matchup:

1. Big experiment
The Sixers started Jahlil Okafor at center and Joel Embiid at power forward together for the first time to mixed results in Wednesday's 123-114 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Okafor appeared energized by the pairing. He played with a certain bounce as he scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with four rebounds and three assists.

Embiid, meanwhile, was the complete opposite. The rookie big man was hesitant and could be seen drifting on both ends of the floor. Embiid finished the game with a season-low nine points on 3 of 6 shooting in addition to six rebounds, five assists and five fouls.

After the defeat, Embiid acknowledged that, “I think for once, since I've been a Sixer, I didn't trust the process tonight.” 

Embiid and Okafor will have every opportunity to figure out if they can succeed together. After playing the combo a combined 17 minutes on Wednesday, head coach Brett Brown is committed to using it moving forward as Embiid finds his way.

“I just think through familiarity of our floor spots and how he finds ways to get himself engaged and he can control his own destiny and still impact the game, I think that’s going to come in a very natural way,” Brown said after practice on Thursday.

2. A look at the rook
No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons has made quite a few strides this week. 

First, he ditched the walking boot on his surgically-repaired right foot. Then, he took in his first game of the season from the bench before showing off some ball-handling skills at practice the following day.

Most recently, Simmons updated his status with a video and claimed his "foot's healing great."

That's good news for the Sixers and their fans, but Simmons' return is still a ways off. Meanwhile, the Lakers' top pick has played in every game this season and is learning just how rough a transition to the NBA can be for a rookie.

The draft's No. 2 selection, Brandon Ingram, has struggled to say the least. Arguably the draft's most offensive-ready prospect, Ingram has averaged just 7.9 points per game on 35.3 percent shooting from the field and 29.0 percent from three-point range.

His other production hasn't exactly made up for the offensive woes. Ingram has averaged 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.8 minutes off the bench.

Part of the issues have to do with the Lakers possibly having the most pure gunners on one roster in league history. But there is no way around saying that Ingram simply hasn't lived up to the billing so far in his first season.

3. Setting the benchmark
It's a good thing for Ingram that he has been getting plenty of support from his fellow reserves.

The Lakers lead the NBA in bench scoring with 52.1 points per game. Former Sixer and Sixth Man of the Year candidate, Lou Williams, is at the head of the charge with a career-high 19.2 points per game. Guard Jordan Clarkson has also been solid with 14.5 points a night off the bench.

The Sixers' second-unit can likely keep pace in the scoring department (they're third in the NBA with 40.4 bench points per game), but it will have to bring the defense to send the Lakers to a ninth straight loss.

4. Injuries
Embiid (knee) is questionable while Nerlens Noel (ankle) and Dario Saric (shin) are probable. Simmons (foot) is out for the Sixers.

Tarik Black (ankle) is a game-time decision. Jose Calderon (hamstring) is out for the Lakers.

5. This and that
• Singer Sevyn Streeter will sing the national anthem before Friday's game. Streeter was scheduled to sing the anthem prior to the season opener but was replaced by the team because she wore a jersey with the words "We Matter" on the front.

• The Sixers beat the Lakers on Dec. 1 last season for their first win of the season. The teams split the season series.

• Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell is averaging 10.3 points per night on 32.1 percent shooting after missing 11 games to have platelet-rich plasma therapy on his right knee.

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