76ers vs. Lakers at a glance
76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers at a glance
TEAMS: Sixers (23-42) vs. Lakers (20-45)
WHEN: 9:30 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Staples Center
BROADCASTS: TV – CSN RADIO – 97.5 FM
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: TWITTER – @PompeyOnSixers, INSTAGRAM – PompeyOnSixers
411 ON LAKERS: The Lakers have embraced tanking this season. And they've had success doing so. They have the league's second-worst record. The Lakers snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating the league's third-worst team, the Phoenix Suns, on Thursday.
Meanwhile, 2015 second-overall pick D'Angelo Russell is playing stellar ball. He averaged 21.9 points on 46.9 percent shooting to go with 5.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals in the seven games after the All-Star break.
PROBABLE STARTERS
SIXERS (23-42)
33 Robert Covington SF 6-9 12.6 ppg. 1.93 spg.
9 Dario Saric PF 6-10 11.9 ppg. 6.3 rpg.
8 Jahlil Okafor C 6-11 11.7 ppg. 5.0 rpg.
12 Gerald Henderson SG 6-6 9.9 ppg. 2.5 rpg.
1 T.J. McConnell PG 6-2 6.4 ppg. 6.2 apg.
Coach: Brett Brown (fourth season, 70-241)
Injury report: Ben Simmons (right foot fracture, out), Jerryd Bayless (left wrist ligament tear, out), Joel Embiid (left knee meniscus tear, bone bruise, out), Tiago Splitter (right calf strain, out).
LAKERS (20-45)
14 Brandon Ingram SF 6-9 8.4 ppg. 4.1 rpg.
30 Julius Randle PF 6-9 12.8 ppg. 8.6 rpg.
28 Tarik Black C 6-9 5.8 ppg. 5.3 rpg.
0 Nick Young SG 6-7 13.4 ppg. 1.0 apg.
1 D'Angelo Russell PG 6-5 15.3 ppg. 4.8 apg.
Coach: Luke Walton (first season, 20-45)
Injury report: None to report
THE SERIES
Lakers own a 144-132 series advantage.
LAS VEGAS LINE
Los Angeles is a 3 ½-point favorite.
LAST SERIES MEETING
The Lakers prevailed. 100-89. back on Dec. 16 at the Wells Fargo Center. At the time, it was the Sixers' eighth consecutive home loss.
They started Embiid and Okafor together in their version of the twin towers. Okafor finished with 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting and eight rebounds. Embiid had a team-high 15 points with four rebounds and two blocks. But with Embiid guarding opposing power forwards away from the basket, the Lakers drove the lane at will.
Randle scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
COMING GAMES
Tuesday: 10:30 p.m., at Oracle Arena, Sixers at Golden State Warriors
Friday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Dallas Mavericks at Sixers
March 19: 1 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Boston Celtics at Sixers
March 20: 7 p.m., at Amway Center, Sixers at Orlando Magic
March 22: 8 p.m., at Chesapeake Energy Arena, Sixers at Oklahoma City Thunder
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.