Only once this season have the Philadelphia 76ers played before a sellout crowd at home and that was on Dec. 1, when Kobe Bryant made his farewell appearance in his hometown.
Sentiment will not be in the air for sellout No. 2 Saturday afternoon, when the phenomenon Stephen Curry and the defending champion Warriors make their annual visit to Wells Fargo Center.
The Warriors (42-4) have been rampaging through the league, winning their last five in a row by an average of 25.4 points. They own the best record in the NBA by a full three games.
The 76ers (7-40) own the worst record in the league, one game worse than the hapless Lakers. They have endured losing streaks of 18 (to begin the season) and 12 games. That they have won 3 of their last eight is indicative of a surge.
There is a reason they rank 28th in home attendance, though there won’t be many, if any, empty seats in the house for this one.
BETTING LINE:
Warriors by 17.
MATCHUP TO WATCH:
Stephen Curry vs. Ish Smith. The former AAU teammates (in North Carolina) meet again. Smith’s energetic presence has given a pulse to a previously lifeless bunch. The 26-year-old is hoops vagabond, having played for nine NBA teams – including six games with the Warriors in 2011-12. As the reigning MVP, Curry will want to remind his old buddy how much better he is now than he was at 15.
INJURY REPORT:
Warriors: F James Michael McAdoo (L foot toe sprain) is listed as doubtful. C Festus Ezeli (L knee soreness) is listed as out, F Andre Iguodala is out (rest).
76ers: C Joel Embiid (R foot injury) is listed as out.
LAST 10:
Warriors: 8-2. 76ers: 3-7.
SERIES HISTORY:
The Warriors have won the last four games, sweeping the two-game series in each of the last two seasons. The Warriors had lost six of the eight prior meetings.
QUOTABLE
“I asked him if we’re going to have a high pickup, pickup (Curry) at half court. He said, ‘No, they get in around 5 o’clock (Friday). You need to pick him up then.” – Smith sharing with Philly reporters a conversation he had Friday morning with 76ers coach Brett Brown.
