Detroit Pistons stumble early in 113-93 loss to Philadelphia 76ers: Game thread recap
Detroit Pistons (8-25) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (17-12)
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Where: Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: 98.7 FM (Pistons radio affiliates).
Betting line: 76ers by 11½ (odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook).
Game notes: This looks like a tough matchup for the Pistons, who are coming off another blowout loss less than 24 hours ago, losing 126-111 at home to Utah. At least Jaden Ivey found his scoring touch after a rough month of play, collecting 30 points on 10-for-14 shooting. The Pistons have lost three straight and the 76ers own the rest advantage, having last played Monday, clipping Toronto in overtime, 104-101.
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The Sixers have surged after a poor start, surviving injuries to Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey. They've won five straight, all at home, with the partnership of Embiid, Harden and Tobias Harris lifting the offense, while the defense has morphed into a top-5 unit in the NBA. The 76ers are fifth in the Eastern Conference, while the bumbling Pistons sit last in the entire league. Embiid, the MVP runner-up the past two seasons and league's leading scorer last season (30.6), is having another ridiculous year. He's again leading the league in scoring, this time averaging 33 points per game, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and collecting a career-high 4.6 assists. He'll provide a stiff test for the Pistons' impressive 19-year-old rookie center Jalen Duren in the first meeting between the teams this season. Duren, a Philly native, has seven straight double-digit rebounding games since entering the starting lineup two weeks ago.
It will also be interesting to watch Isaiah Stewart defensively in ball-screen action against Harden; Stewart was part of the reason the Pistons dominated the fourth quarter in the previous meeting March 31 in Detroit, leading to a 102-94 comeback win. But there is no Cade Cunningham to rescue the Pistons this time; he's out for the season after undergoing shin surgery last week. For the Sixers, Maxey (foot) remains out, but Harden returned two weeks ago from his foot injury, and is averaging 21.9 points with 10.5 assists in 15 games this season.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons lose to Philadelphia 76ers, 113-93: Game thread recap
