Nets at 76ers
THE STORY: The Philadelphia 76ers have taken full advantage of one of the league's cushiest January schedules. The Sixers look to improve to 11-3 for the month as they entertain the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night. Philadelphia is in the midst of a bizarre stretch that has them playing 15 of 18 games at home. Not surprisingly, the Sixers have looked comfortable in their own digs so far, posting an 8-1 home record while averaging more than 101 points per game there. Philadelphia opened its latest seven-game homestand in style, rolling to a 103-83 triumph over the Washington Wizards. Things are far more dire for the Nets, who are coming off a 15-point loss to the powerhouse Chicago Bulls on Monday night. That defeat dropped the Nets to 3-8 on the road so far this season, and marked the fifth straight time New Jersey has surrendered more than 100 points in a road game. This is the first meeting between the clubs this season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, YES, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
ABOUT THE NETS (5-13): New Jersey concluded its stretch of back-to-back-to-back games with losses to Oklahoma City and Chicago sandwiched around a victory over Charlotte. MarShon Brooks became the latest Nets player to hit the injury report, suffering a sore left Achilles' tendon that kept him out of the lineup against the Bulls. Brooks has been one of the most impressive rookies in the league to date, averaging 15.4 points in just under 30 minutes of action.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (12-5): Most teams employ their starting point guard as the primary facilitator - but not Philadelphia, which ranks fifth in the league in assists despite not having a single player average more than five per game. Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday are tops on the team at 4.7 per game, with Louis Williams (3.4) and Evan Turner (3.1) also playing key roles. The Sixers put on a passing display against Washington, recording 30 assists on 43 field goals.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Philadelphia swept the season series in 2010-11 and has won eight straight meetings overall.
2. Seven New Jersey players have missed at least one game so far this season.