Sixers host Utah Jazz on second leg of back-to-back

The Sixers are coming off a rough one — getting blown out at home by the San Antonio Spurs, 131-91. The good news is they won’t have long to stew on it. Philadelphia hosts the Utah Jazz tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back, giving them a quick chance to bounce back.

Sixer fans know a tank job when they see one, and the Jazz are running a familiar operation this season. Utah is near full tank mode, banged up across the roster and sitting comfortably in the lottery race. That said, the pieces are starting to come together. The blockbuster acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline gives them a legitimate cornerstone to build around, and he’ll eventually slot in alongside a frontcourt that already features Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler — the latter a pending restricted free agent.

Surrounding that frontcourt is Keyonte George, a guard in the middle of a genuine breakout. In 50 games, George is averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists on 46.1/37.3 shooting splits. His decision-making and efficiency have taken a leap, and he’s quickly establishing himself as one of the more exciting young guards in the West.

Beyond the headliners, Utah has quietly built some depth despite the losing record. Fifth overall pick Ace Bailey has put together a productive rookie campaign, and the roster is dotted with intriguing young pieces in Kyle Filipowski, Brice Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier. The foundation is real — once they get healthy and stay healthy, they’ll be a threat in the West sooner than people expect.

On the Sixers side, things are trending in the wrong direction. The Spurs loss wasn’t just a bad night, the team looked gassed and disjointed from the opening tip. VJ Edgecombe exited that game after a hard fall and did not return, with the team citing back soreness. His status for tonight is worth monitoring. Joel Embiid and Paul George are both out, and Kelly Oubre — who missed the Spurs game with an illness — is also questionable.

The Jazz are several tiers below San Antonio, but this is shaping up to be another shorthanded night for Philly. Calling a regular season game a must-win is a strong statement, but this one is close. The Sixers are just 0.5 games ahead of the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat for the sixth and final playoff spot, and with the play-in looming, dropping a winnable home game against a depleted Utah squad would sting.

For Utah, Jackson Jr., Kessler, Markkanen, Jusuf Nurkic and Vince Williams are all out tonight. Keyonte George is expected to play. Philadelphia’s full injury report won’t drop until early afternoon, but Embiid and Paul George are confirmed out. Edgecombe and Oubre are the names to watch as tip-off approaches.

Can the Sixers stop the bleeding and secure a win against a team that’s actively trying to lose? Let’s find out.

Game Details

When: Wednesday, March 4th, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers