English
Español
The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a tough loss to the Boston Celtics. Now, they’ll turn their attention to a back-to-back in Philly, starting with the San Antonio Spurs and ending with the Utah Jazz.
But first, let’s focus on the Spurs, who have put together a strong season so far. When breaking down San Antonio, you have to start with the 7-foot-5 elephant in the room: Victor Wembanyama. The 2023 first overall pick has lived up to the hype as a generational talent. This season, he’s averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1 steal and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the floor and 34.1 percent from three. Even with missed time, Wemby has been a game-changer on both ends and will give the Sixers plenty of headaches as they prepare for this matchup.
Beyond their franchise star, the Spurs have a lot of depth. Their backcourt features All-Star De’Aaron Fox, rising star Stephon Castle and rookie Dylan Harper, who was selected just ahead of VJ Edgecombe in last year’s draft. Fox is already a well-established, strong starting-caliber player. Castle, meanwhile, has developed into a legitimate two-way guard, averaging 16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists this season. Harper has seen limited opportunities behind the talented backcourt, but he’s put up 11 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists over 49 games while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 25.4 percent from three.
It remains to be seen how that backcourt will shake out long-term, but for now, the trio offers a solid mix of playmaking, length and two-way ability. Beyond Wemby and the guard group, the Spurs have other intriguing pieces. Former Sixer Julian Champagnie has emerged as a quality rotation player and floor spacer, Devin Vassell has quietly had another solid season, and several veterans have contributed in meaningful ways, including Luke Kornet, Keldon Johnson — who is quietly making a push for Sixth Man of the Year — and Harrison Barnes.
Many around the league consider the Spurs a serious threat, capable of challenging heavy favorites like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Denver Nuggets. And for good reason. They have a generational two-way player, an abundance of playmaking options, and legitimate depth to complement their stars. San Antonio ranks seventh in offense and third in defense, which is a strong indicator that this team has genuine contending potential.
Similar to the Celtics game, this one will likely come down to Tyrese Maxey and Edgecombe, fair or not. The Sixers will again be without Joel Embiid and Paul George, putting even more pressure on the backcourt to carry the offense. In normal circumstances, the VJ Maxx duo has done enough to win most games over the past few games, but nothing about this matchup is normal. They will need support from players such as Kelly Oubre Jr. to generate enough offense to keep pace with the Spurs.
That will be far from easy. Wemby will be patrolling the rim as usual. Maxey did have one of his best games last season against Wemby and the Spurs, so it is possible he could replicate that success. Still, this will be a grueling matchup, as the Spurs have the length and athleticism to disrupt the Sixers’ backcourt and clog passing lanes. For Philadelphia to have a chance, Maxey and Edgecombe will need not just to be good, but truly great.
Outside of offensive production, a key area to watch in this matchup will be shooting and the big-man battle. With Embiid and George out, the roster simply lacks high-volume, consistent perimeter shooting. The Spurs will likely challenge players outside of the backcourt to take and make perimeter shots while packing the paint.
Surprisingly, this is the first matchup of the season between the Sixers and Spurs. It’ll also mark the first meeting between Edgecombe and Harper, two of the top three picks in this draft. Edgecombe has been playing strong basketball lately, averaging 20.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 43.9 percent from three since the All-Star break.
Oh, and this game comes with some extra flair beyond the usual matchup. NBC is re-creating a 1995–96-style broadcast as part of a “Throwback Tuesday” telecast, complete with retro announcers, old-school graphics, classic replays, a traditional score bug, a full pregame show, and even grainy flashbacks to capture the era’s feel. The coverage begins at 7 p.m. EST, an hour before tip-off, and will be hosted by Hannah Storm alongside Isiah Thomas and P. J. Carlesimo.
At tip-off, the broadcast team will feature Bob Costas on the call with Mike Fratello and, to the chagrin of OG Sixers fans, Doug Collins, while Jim Gray handles sideline reports. For anyone who appreciates a little nostalgia, this should be a fun one to tune into.
Key names on the injury report include Embiid, George and Johni Broome, all listed as out. For San Antonio, the key name is Mason Plumlee, who is out for conditioning reasons.
This won’t be an easy game by any means, but a win here would effectively split two tough back-to-back matchups and keep the Sixers out of play-in territory. Let’s see if the shorthanded Sixers can do the improbable and steal a victory from one of the league’s best teams.
Game Details
When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports, Peacock
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers