Sixers vs. Bulls preview. Image via: NBA
The 6-1 Philadelphia 76ers host the Chicago Bulls on Monday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia’s 6-1 start has included some rallies. The aim against Chicago is one clean game over all 48 minutes. Brown returned on Halloween and played 38 minutes in a 109-104 win over Charlotte. The numbers were modest: 16 points, four assists and four rebounds on 40.0% shooting. All four sat below the averages from the first five games, when the forward put up 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 36.4 minutes a night, shooting 44.2% overall and 40.9% from three.
The Sixers have won games from behind, and they would rather stop needing to. EST. It is a short stay at home. Jaylen Brown, the veteran forward who missed Friday’s win over the New York Knicks, was left off the weekend injury report and looks set to start. Joel Embiid is listed as questionable with right foot plantar fascia injury management. Dominick Barlow and Ariel Hukporti are out. Chicago may be without Nic Claxton, who is doubtful. Here is where to watch, who is hurt and who is expected to start. Jaylen Brown’s knee is the main thing to watch. A left patellar tendinopathy sidelined the veteran forward for Friday’s win over the Knicks, his first missed game of the season. Coach Nick Nurse suggested the latest setback is not a long-term concern, and Philadelphia left Brown off its first injury report for this game. Barring a change, he starts. Questionable: Joel Embiid (right foot plantar fascia injury management)
The schedule adds some push, since three straight road games follow, at Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago, before the team gets back to Philadelphia. The same knee trouble showed up earlier in Brown’s career with the Celtics. The Sixers fly to Detroit on Wednesday to open a three-game road trip that also stops in Cleveland and Chicago.