The Sixers (6-20) will try to snap their eight-game skid at home when they host the Brooklyn Nets (7-18) at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday night (6 p.m./TCN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports app).
Let's take a closer look at the matchup:
1. Center City is crowded
Any suggestions?
The Sixers should be open to them regarding their ongoing dilemma at center after Nerlens Noel's recent outburst.
Noel, in just his second game this season, was limited to 8:02 of playing time — all in the first half — during the Sixers' 100-89 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. That caused the big man to lash out about the situation at center and say, "They need to figure this s--- out.”
Noel had a meeting with head coach Brett Brown on Saturday to discuss his role with fellow centers Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor currently eating up minutes in the starting lineup (see story). While both parties expressed that they need to handle their end better, there still doesn't appear to be an imminent end to the problem.
With that in mind, we'll see how Brown manages the bigs against the Nets and their conventional frontcourt.
NBA
2. Staying on point
Jeremy Lin is back in New York City, but with a different address this time as a member of the Nets.
That hasn't exactly worked out well for him so far this season as the oft-injured point guard has been limited to just seven games with hamstring and back injuries.
However, when Lin has been on the court for Brooklyn, he's been able to produce. He's averaging 14.6 points per game, which matches the career high he set with the New York Knicks in 2011-12 at the height of "Linsanity." He's also putting up 5.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals a night.
The Sixers would be wise to keep an eye on the veteran PG. Lin has had some of his best performances against them over the years. In 10 career games against the Sixers, Lin has averaged 16.5 points for his highest mark against any opponent.
3. Try to keep up
The Nets are racking up just as many losses as the Sixers this season but they come at a much different speed.
Brooklyn is No. 1 in the NBA in pace with 104.07 possessions per game (the Sixers are 15th at 98.80).
Playing at such a high tempo combined with their affinity for three-pointers (33.2 attempts per game), it's no wonder the Nets rank eighth in the league with 106.7 points per game.
Throw in the fact that the Sixers and Nets are tied for last with 17.0 turnovers per game, and Sunday's matchup could be a blur to follow.
4. Injuries
Hollis Thompson (knee) is probable. Ben Simmons (foot) is out for the Sixers.
The Nets don't have any players listed on the injury report.
5. This and that
• One team's skid will end on Sunday as the Sixers have lost eight straight home games and the Nets have dropped eight consecutive road games.
• The Sixers and Nets split their four-game series last season.
• Okafor averaged 22.0 points and 13.5 rebounds against the Nets a season ago.