Philadelphia is 6-1 and first in the East, with five games between now and Nov. 10. Tonight's game is the easy one; the three road games after it are where the schedule bites.
Who is Philly playing this week, and where?
Monday, Nov. 2 brings the Bulls to town. Then comes Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the Pistons on ESPN, Friday, Nov. 6 at the Cavaliers on Prime Video and Sunday, Nov. 8 back at the Bulls. The Celtics arrive Tuesday, Nov. 10 on NBC/Peacock. That is three straight road games with one open day between each, after three games in the previous seven days.
Is tonight's game against Chicago a gimme?
Close to one. Chicago is 1-5 with four straight losses, a 121.6 defensive rating and a -15.7 net rating over six games, a small sample but an ugly one. Caleb Wilson scores 21.2 and Norman Powell 20.7, and Nic Claxton is out. The Bulls do have two days of rest to Philly's one. Win it, because the same Bulls get a second look Nov. 8.
Will Embiid play against Chicago?
He is listed Day-To-Day with a right foot injury, and the report gives today as his return date, which is not a promise. In five games he has averaged 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 35.2 minutes. Philadelphia just won 109-104 at Charlotte without him and LeBron James, Maxey scoring 38. James was cleared Sunday, so the lineup should look fuller than it did Saturday.
How much are injuries costing Philly right now?
Today it is manageable. By our count, injuries have taken 745 minutes from the roster since Oct. 20, the 10th most of 30 teams. Right now the gap is 33 minutes: Dominick Barlow at 23.8 a game, due back Nov. 4 on the injury list, and Ariel Hukporti at 9.2, listed out until 2027-10-01. Jaylen Brown's knee also bears watching.
When do the 76ers play next after the Bulls?
They visit the Pistons on Wednesday, Nov. 4 on ESPN. After that come the Cavaliers on Nov. 6 and the Bulls again on Nov. 8, both on the road.
When do the 76ers host the Celtics?
Philadelphia hosts Boston on Tuesday, Nov. 10, televised on NBC/Peacock. It follows three straight road games.
