The 34-15 Sixers will try to extend their winning streak to three games Sunday night and split their two-game season series with Memphis.
Here are the essentials for the team's matchup with the 23-23 Grizzlies:
- When: 7 p.m. ET with Sixers Pregame Live at 6 p.m.
- Where: Wells Fargo Center
- Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia
- Live stream: NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com and the MyTeams app
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And here are three storylines to watch:
Embiid out
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said Saturday the team would be “more cautious than aggressive" as Joel Embiid works his way back from a left knee bone bruise. At the time, Rivers was uncertain whether Embiid would be available against Memphis.
We learned through the NBA's official 1:30 p.m. injury report that Embiid is out, meaning the Sixers will play without their All-Star center for the 11th time in 12 games. The team starts a four-game road trip Tuesday in Boston.
NBA
Embiid didn't think he played well in the Sixers' win Saturday over the Timberwolves despite having 24 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes, acknowledging he was rusty and that his knee brace irritated him. His health is clearly a high priority for the team.
Harris still the hot hand
There’s plenty that’s been impressive about Tobias Harris this season, including his clutch scoring, passing, uncluttered approach and improved defense.
We’ll add his post-All-Star production to the list. Following a 32-point game vs. the Timberwolves on 13-for-17 shooting, Harris is averaging 22.0 points on 54.8/43.8/93.6 shooting splits, 6.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals after the break.
Rivers, who called Saturday’s win “one of those sloppy, ugly games,” thought Harris should’ve had more opportunities against Sacramento.
“It was great,” he said. “He should’ve scored more. We should’ve (gone) to him more. We had him going and we self-isolated him, it felt like. But it’s good. There’s room for everybody — there really is. Tobias knows that, Joel knows that, Ben (Simmons), Seth (Curry) ... I thought early on, (Harris) was the only one who had it going. We were missing some point-blank looks, but that happens. When that happens, you’ve just got to keep playing. I thought our guys did that pretty well.”
Turnovers piled up back in January
The Sixers’ Jan. 16 loss to Memphis is one of the few occasions this year when Harris made a telling late-game mistake. He stepped on the baseline with 5.9 seconds to go and the Sixers down a point, looking to cap a fourth-quarter comeback without Embiid, who was sidelined by right knee pain.
That single play isn’t what lost the Sixers the game, though. The team turned the ball over 23 times, a statistic worth tracking again Sunday. Memphis is No. 2 in opponents’ turnover percentage (15.5), per Cleaning the Glass, while the Sixers are 25th in turnover percentage.
Both teams beat the Timberwolves in their last game. Jonas Valanciunas had a 19-point double-double Friday in a 120-108 Grizzlies win.
Memphis will be without Jaren Jackson Jr. (left knee meniscus surgery recovery) and Justise Winslow (right thigh soreness). While George Hill was on the Sixers’ bench Saturday, Rivers said he hasn’t been cleared for contact yet as he rehabs from right thumb surgery in February.