76ers at Bulls
All-Star center Joel Embiid is expected to miss his seventh straight game when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Embiid has been ailing with a sore left knee, and the 76ers are 4-2 in his absence.
The 76ers are hopeful Embiid will return for Friday's game in Houston but first will look to post their eighth win in 11 games when they face the Bulls. JJ Redick broke out of a slump in Tuesday's 114-106 victory over Orlando by making six 3-pointers during a 26-point effort. Chicago has dropped back-to-back games, including Tuesday's 105-96 loss at Indiana. "We lost because they were tougher than us in the fourth quarter," Bulls coach Jim Boylen told reporters one day after getting a public vote of confidence from team president Michael Reinsdorf.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE 76ERS (41-23): Redick was just 11-for-42 from 3-point range over his previous six games and scored in single digits twice during that stretch before breaking out against Orlando. "Great shooters shoot. It's 82 games," coach Brett Brown told reporters after the win over the Magic. "He had a few games where he was not himself. ... It's just part of the flow of an 82-game, six-month season. He will respond. He's that competitive, and that good." Redick has made six or more 3-pointers seven times this season, with his high of eight also coming against Orlando on Oct. 20.
ABOUT THE BULLS (18-47): Boylen was viewed as a seat-warmer when Chicago fired Fred Hoiberg in early December with a 5-19 record, but management isn't blaming him for the poor campaign. “Well, it’s a real blessing for me to have that vote of confidence from my boss," Boylen told reporters. "I’ve said all along, our communication has been great. Our honesty ... they’ve allowed me to coach this team how I thought it needed to be coached. They’ve let me grow too." Zach LaVine, who clashed with Boylen in December, scored 27 points against the Pacers and is averaging 29 over his last four games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The 76ers have won each of the last three meetings, including a 127-108 home victory on Oct. 18.
2. Philadelphia SF Tobias Harris scored 21 points against Orlando for his seventh straight 20-point performance.
3. Chicago SF Otto Porter Jr. recorded seven points on 3-of-11 shooting against Indiana after scoring at least 17 in each of his first seven appearances with the team.