Sixers-Knicks 5 Things: Final Game Comes With Large Lottery Implications

Sixers (28-53) at Knicks (30-51)
8 p.m. on CSN/CSNPhilly.com/NBC Sports app

The Sixers conclude their season on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. With both teams well short of the playoffs, the game can significantly affect the lottery for each squad.

Here are five things to know for tonight's game.

1. Lottery implications
This game has serious implications for the lottery odds of both the Sixers and Knicks. Each team could lose a few ping pong balls with a win and Tankathon.com lists this game as the highest draft impact game for the NBA's final day of the season.

Right now, the Sixers are tied for the fourth worst record in basketball with the Magic, who face the Detroit Pistons in Orlando tonight. If they both have the same result on Wednesday, they'll each have a 10.3 percent chance at the top overall pick (before factoring in the Sixers' pick swap with the Kings). If the Sixers lose and Magic win, the Sixers' odds would move up to 11.9 percent. If the opposite results happen, the Sixers' odds decrease to 8.8 percent.

The Knicks are locked into the sixth worst record with a loss on Wednesday. However, if they win and the Timberwolves lose to the Rockets, the two teams would move into a tie, decreasing the Knicks' odds.

2. The finish line
The season comes to a merciful end for the Sixers with their many injuries. The team is down to so few players, to the point where they received a hardship waiver to sign Alex Poythress to another 10-day contract. Poythress had never played an NBA game before this month but was forced into 25 minutes a night over the last five games. The Kentucky product put up a career-high 15 points behind 5 of 7 shooting from three on Monday vs. Indiana.

Rookie of the Year favorite Dario Saric is still on a minutes restriction for the final game of the year while T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes have taken on starting roles to end the year. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has led the team in scoring in four of the last five contests, including 24 points on 12 shots Monday. TLC has looked like he ain't no scrub while recceiving his first taste of real playing time over the last few months.

Still, despite the contributions of a few young players, the Sixers' injuries have taken their toll. The team is on a seven-game losing skid, which has benefitted their lottery position but also been a disappointing end to a much-improved season. A year ago, the team won just 10 games, nearly tying the record for fewest wins in a season. With either 28 or 29 wins, the team almost tripled their win total and showed glimpses of the promise hoped for with The Process.

3. Knocked-around Knicks
The Knicks are limping to the finish line just as much as the Sixers. 21 games under .500, the team has decided to sit most of its veterans and go full youth movement for the season's final games. Star small forward Carmelo Anthony is out with an injury. Derrick Rose has a torn meniscus. Joakim Noah is both injured and suspended.

Even 21-year-old Latvian unicorn Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out for tonight's contest as he deals with a back injury. He's played in just one game this month. It's pretty startling to watch big market teams like the Knicks and Lakers embrace tanking so shortly after the Sixers were admonished for doing the same, albeit with less of a veil over it. 

So who exactly will be on the court Wednesday? Rookie shooting guard Ron Baker and center Willy Hernangomez have seen large upticks in their minutes recently while Justin Holiday, older brother of former Sixers guard Jrue, has taken the reins at point guard. The only opening night starter still going strong is Courtney Lee, who has averaged 14.2 points on 12 shots per night in April. Lee has 28 points in the three prior meetings with the Sixers.

4. Injuries
Joel Embiid (knee), Ben Simmons (foot), Jahlil Okafor (knee), Robert Covington (knee), Jerryd Bayless (wrist) and Sergio Rodriguez (hamstring) are out.

For the Knicks, Rose (knee), Anthony (knee), Noah (suspension), Porzingis (back) are out.

5. This and that
• Former Sixers PG Chasson Randle has averaged 4.7 points in 11.7 minutes over 17 games with the Knicks. 

• The Sixers lead the season series, 2-1. The Knicks won their only prior meeting at MSG on a late jumper from Anthony.

• Assuming he plays Wednesday night, Saric will be the only Sixer to appear in all 82 games this season. McConnell missed just one game while Nik Stauskas has played in all but two.