Winnable games on tap for Sixers

The struggling 76ers might have received an early Christmas gift with winnable games coming up against the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic.

Those two squads have a combined 16-37 record and are the worst teams in the Southeast Division. The Hornets (6-19) have lost four straight and 14 of 16.  The Magic (10-18) have dropped two straight and 10 of 14.

The Sixers (2-22) will host Charlotte on Friday at the Wells Fargo Center before opening a seven-game road trip at Orlando on Sunday.

"They are very winnable games," point guard Michael Carter-Williams said. "They are good teams. I think we match up well against them. We can run on both teams. ...

"You can't take any team lightly. We just have to go in there and play our game and try to win."

The Sixers are 0-13 at home.  However, they will be facing a Charlotte squad that's 1-10 on the road.  Another thing in their favor is that Hornets shooting guard Lance Stephenson is doubtful with a pelvic strain.

Meanwhile, the Magic are just 3-6 at home.

However, the Sixers will still have their hands full.

Like the Sixers, the Hornets and Magic are in desperate need of a victory. Unlike the Memphis Grizzlies, they won't take the Sixers lightly.

So this weekend's matchups should be very interesting.

After that, victories in the remaining games of the road trip will be hard to get against the Miami Heat (Tuesday), Portland Trail Blazers (Dec. 26), Utah Jazz (Dec. 27), Golden State Warriors (Dec. 30), Phoenix Suns (Jan. 2), and Los Angeles Clippers (Jan. 3).

Follow and contract Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and Instagram at PompeyOnSixers