Sixers vs. Phoenix Suns at a glance

76ers vs. Phoenix Suns at a Glance

TEAMS:  Sixers (7-21) vs. Suns (8-21)

WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday

WHERE:  Talking Stick Resort Arena

BROADCASTS: TV – CSN RADIO – 97.5 FM

SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE:  TWITTER – @PompeyOnSixers, INSTAGRAM – PompeyOnSixers

411 ON SUNS:  The Suns are in desperate need of a victory, having lost four straight and 10 of their last 13 games. Shooting guard Devin Booker and reserve point guard Brandon Knight have been  recent bright spots, though.

Booker averaged 25.7 points while making 45.2 percent on his shots in the past three games. The Former Kentucky standout made 42.9 percent on his three-pointers during that time. Knight, another former Wildcat standout, has been averaging 19.0 points and shooting 50.0 percent on three-pointers in the past two games.

They aren't the only ones having success behind the three-point line.

The Suns have averaged 9.9 made three-pointers on 36.6 percent shooting from that distance in the past 12 games.  Phoenix also ranks ninth in scoring at 106.5 points per game for the season. They are second in pace at 103.3 possessions per 48 minutes.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Suns (8-21)

17  P.J. Tucker F 6-6 6.1 ppg. 5.4 rpg.

0 Marquese Chriss PF 6-10 6.8 ppg 3.4 rpg.

4 Tyson Chandler C 7-1 7.5 ppg. 11.5 rpg.

1 Devin Booker G 6-6  19.1 ppg. 3.1 apg.

2 Eric Bledsoe  G 6-1  19.9 ppg. 5.3 apg.

Coach:  Earl Watson (second season, 17-45)

Injury report: Leandro Barbaso (left knee tendinitis, questionable) and Brandon Knight (right thigh injury, questionable). 

SIXERS (7-21)

33 Robert Covington SF 6-9  10.0 ppg. 1.6 spg.

21 Joel Embiid PF 7-2 17.9 ppg. 2.4 bpg.

8 Jahlil Okafor C 6-11 11.3 ppg. 5.0 rpg.

12 Gerald Henderson SG 6-5  9.4 ppg. 2.7 rpg.

14 Sergio Rodriguez PG 6-3 8.8 ppg. 6.3 apg.

Coach: Brett Brown (Fourth season, 54-22)

Injury report: Ben Simmons (right foot fracture, out), Jerryd Bayless, (left wrist ligament tear, out), Richaun Holmes (concussion, out).

THE SERIES

The Suns own a 65-55 series advantage. The Sixers have won the last three meetings.

LAST MEETING:  Embiid finished with 26 points in 20 minutes of action in the Sixers' 120-105 victory over the Suns on Nov. 19  at the Wells Fargo Center. He also had seven rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and three turnovers. With his parents sitting courtside, the rookie scored on his first three shots - a layup followed by 24-foot and 26-foot three-pointers to give the Sixers an 8-5 lead with 10 minutes, 9 seconds left in the quarter. Then after a layup by Ersan Ilyasova, Embiid scored on an alley-oop dunk from Sergio Rodriguez. That gave him 10 of the Sixers' first 12 points.

Embiid went on to add a pair of foul shots and a three-pointer on his way to shooting 6 of 8 in the quarter - including going 3 for 4 on three-pointers.

The Sixers tied the franchise record with 17 three-pointers. They also shot 52.3 percent from the field on a night when Nik Stauskas added 21 points off the bench. The guard made 8 of 9 shots, including 5 of 6 three-pointers.

T.J. McConnell drew a lot of praise for his defensive effort. The reserve point guard had three steals in 19 minutes, 25 seconds of action while harassing the Phoenix ball handlers. He also finished with five points.

UPCOMING GAMES

Monday: 10:30 p.m., at Golden 1 Center, Sixers vs. Sacramento Kings

Thursday: 9 p.m., at Vivint Smart Home Arena, Sixers vs. Utah Jazz

Dec. 30: 9 p.m., at Pepsi Center, Sixers vs. Denver Nuggets

Jan. 3: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Sixers

Jan. 6: 7:30 p.m., at T.D. Garden, Sixers vs. Boston Celtics

Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.