What's left of the Sixers will host the NBA-worst Brooklyn Nets Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m./TCN, CSNPhilly.com and the NBC Sports app).
Let's take a closer look at the matchup.
1. Rookie restrictions
Dario Saric on Monday was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the second straight month. In March, Saric averaged 18.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 31.7 minutes a game.
Joel Embiid and Saric are the first rookies on the same team to win the award in multiple months. Embiid appeared to be the runaway winner for the Rookie of the Year award, winning Rookie of the Month the first three months of the season. Saric is now the frontrunner, despite the strong play of Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon.
Saric was on a 24-minute restriction in Sunday's loss to Toronto because of a heel injury. He'll be limited to 24 minutes again tonight against the Nets. The 22-year-old Croatian appears to be fine. The restriction looks to be precautionary as the Sixers limp to the finish line. Saric was big in last week's win in Brooklyn, finishing with 23 points and seven rebounds in over 36 minutes.
2. Cutting down the Nets
The Nets have been dreadful this season. They've won 18 games, four fewer than the next-worst team (Suns, Lakers). What's astonishing is that Brooklyn has had a late-season surge just to get to that total. The Nets have won two in a row and six of their last nine. They're also a respectable 10-10 since March 1.
Philadelphia 76ers
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers and their rivals in the NBA from NBC Sports Philadelphia.
A big part of Brooklyn's recent success has to do with veterans Brook Lopez and Jeremy Lin. Lopez, the subject of several trade rumors around the deadline, has had a strong season. He's quickly approaching history. The 29-year-old big man needs just 61 points to pass Buck Williams on the Nets' all-time scoring list. He's played very well against the Sixers this season, averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 blocks in three games.
Lin has been Brooklyn's X-factor. After signing a three-year, $38-million deal in the offseason, Lin has been limited to just 32 games (29 starts). Eleven of the Nets' 18 wins have come in games Lin has started. Lin struggled from the field against the Sixers last week (4 of 14) but still finished with seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.
3. Ping-pong balls
The Nets have the best odds to get the No. 1 overall pick, which would be great if that pick didn't belong to the Boston Celtics as a result of arguably the worst trade in NBA history. According to Tankathon.com, Boston has a 25 percent chance to get the top pick.
The Sixers' situation is a little trickier. As we all know, their draft position(s) will rely on two other teams. The Sixers currently have the fifth-worst record in the league, giving them an 8.8 percent chance at the first pick and 29.1 percent chance to crack the top three. Add to that the pick swap with the Sacramento Kings and those chances improve to 13.1 and 44.1, respectively.
And then there's the Lakers' top-three protected pick. As of right now, the Lakers have the third-worst record in the league. Their odds to land in the top three are at 46.9 percent. Of course, if that pick doesn't convey, it'll be unprotected in 2018.
4. Injuries
Joel Embiid (knee), Ben Simmons (foot), Jahlil Okafor (knee), Robert Covington (knee), and Jerryd Bayless (wrist) are all out for the season. Point guard Sergio Rodriguez (hamstring) is out tonight.
Gerald Henderson (hip) and Tiago Splitter (calf) are probable.
For Brooklyn, guard Joe Harris (shoulder) is done for the season. Rookie point guard Isaiah Whitehead (ankle) is questionable.
5. This and that
• Former Delaware 87er Sean Kilpatrick is the Nets' third-leading scorer, averaging 13.1 points a game.
• In his first NBA game, undrafted forward Alex Poythress scored 11 points (4 of 8) and grabbed three rebounds in the Sixers' loss to Toronto.
• Chester native Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has become a staple in Brooklyn's starting lineup, starting the last 29 games for the Nets, averaging 9.5 points and seven rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game.
