The Sixers (9-57) make the trip up to Brooklyn to face the Nets (18-48) on Tuesday night at the Barclays Center (7:30 p.m./TCN).
Let’s take a closer look at the matchup:
1. Anything is possible
Is it possible for a team with just nine wins through mid-March to have an opponent’s number?
Somehow, that might be the case between the Sixers and Nets. The Sixers have two wins in their last 20 games and both have come over the Nets.
The last of those victories came on Friday when the Sixers held on for a 95-89 win at the Wells Fargo Center to snap their 13-game losing skid. Despite having a roster depleted by injuries, the Sixers were able to limit the Nets to 37.9 percent shooting and win the rebounding battle 60-49.
Brooklyn and Phoenix are the only teams the Sixers have beaten multiple times this season, but a victory on Tuesday would be even more satisfying because it would give them their first win in a season series against the Nets in five years.
2. On point
While Ish Smith nearly had a triple-double in the Sixers’ last win over the Nets, his primary replacement was also on top of his game.
NBA
T.J. McConnell has thrived against the Nets during his rookie season. The point guard scored 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting, including 2 of 2 from three-point range on Friday. He also added four assists and two boards in 16 minutes of action.
McConnell has averaged 14.7 points on 68.0 percent shooting to go along with 3.7 assists, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals in three games against the Nets.
Strong numbers for an undrafted free agent whose supreme work ethic has allowed him to enjoy a successful first year in the NBA.
“The thing that I respect most about him is that he epitomizes that quality that I think might be the No. 1 thing that we need: day-to-day guys, people that you know what you’re getting,” Sixers head coach Brett Brown said (see story). “He’s steady, he’s stable, he’s personality, he’s tough, he brings that edge to a game, to a practice, to a locker room. I just respect him. That’s just how he’s wired.”
3. Forever Young
McConnell isn’t the only player who has put up solid stats in the series between the Sixers and Nets.
Thaddeus Young has been a force against his former team. Young has averaged 20.3 points and 10.0 rebounds in three games against the Sixers so far this season. He registered 21 points, nine boards, two assists and two steals in the last meeting.
In six games against the Sixers since being traded in the summer of 2014, Young has averaged 18.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
With Jahlil Okafor sidelined and Jerami Grant potentially missing another game after his scary collision in the last matchup, Young could be in line for another big game on Tuesday.
4. Injuries
Wayne Ellington (illness) is a game-time decision. Jarrett Jack (knee) is out for the season.
Grant (concussion), Robert Covington (concussion) and Richaun Holmes (Achilles) are all out (see story).
5. This and that
• The Sixers have lost eight straight games on the road.
• Brooklyn has lost four in a row overall.
• Carl Landry has scored 34 points on 14 of 22 shooting in the Sixers’ last two games.
• Brook Lopez has averaged 24.5 points on 58.5 percent shooting in his last six games.
• The Sixers haven’t won a season series with the Nets since 2010-11.