The Sixers (18-58) continue their final road trip of the season against the Charlotte Hornets (32-43) on Saturday night (7 p.m./CSN).
Let's take a closer look at the matchup:
1. Fading fast
The Sixers have shown growth over the second half of the season, but it hasn't materialized in many wins lately.
The Sixers were blitzed right from the start on Wednesday in a 106-93 loss to the Washington Wizards that wasn't even that close. They allowed 65 points in the first half on their way to a fourth straight loss.
The Hornets haven't been much better recently despite being right in the thick of the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Charlotte was picked apart during a 93-74 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. It marked the Hornets' seventh defeat in their last 10 games.
2. Making his point
Sometimes all it takes is the right situation. Right, Ish Smith?
NBA
After eight NBA teams in five years, Smith appears to have finally found a place to establish himself.
Smith has thrived since joining the Sixers at the trade deadline. He is averaging 12.5 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 21 games with the club.
Those numbers are even better in Smith's 10 games as a starter when he has put up 15.3 points, 6.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
Smith tied a season high with 23 points in the Sixers' loss to the Wizards on Wednesday.
All of that success has come despite head coach Brett Brown being forced to keep things extremely simple at the point guard spot (see story).
Smith, however, won't have a simple night on the defensive end Saturday. He will be in charge of containing Kemba Walker, who will certainly be looking to rebound from a miserable 1 for 9 shooting performance against the Pacers.
3. Time to sting?
The Sixers' recent skid has coincided with the shooting struggles of Robert Convington.
Covington has shot just 13 of 40 (32.5 percent) from the field during the Sixers' current four-game slide and has failed to reach double figures in points in two of those matchups.
One would think that a date against the team allowing the fourth-fewest points in the entire NBA might not be ideal for a player in the middle of a shooting slump. But that might not be the case for Covington.
The sharpshooter has averaged 20.5 points on 52.0 percent shooting in two games against the Hornets this season. Covington has also averaged 5.0 rebounds a contest against Charlotte.
4. Injuries
Al Jefferson (knee) missed the second half of the Hornets' loss to the Pacers and is day to day.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (ankle) has missed the last three games and Tyler Zeller (shoulder) has missed the last seven games.
Isaiah Canaan (foot) will miss the Sixers' next two games.
Jason Richardson (knee) is likely to miss the first game of the back-to-back set.
Joel Embiid (foot) and Tony Wroten (knee) are out indefinitely.
5. This and that
• The Sixers are one win away from matching last season's win total.
• The Hornets are two games back of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
• The Sixers have a minus-7.8 rebounding margin during their losing skid.
• Charlotte has won five of the last seven in the series.