Bulls at 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are locked into third place in the Eastern Conference when the playoffs begin this weekend and the biggest goal is avoiding injury when they complete the regular season at home against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. The 76ers, who will play either Orlando or Brooklyn in the first round, have dropped four of the last five games while periodically sitting out several of their top players that are nursing ailments or need rest.
Leading scorer and rebounder Joel Embiid (knee tendinitis) and shooting guard J.J. Redick (lower back tightness) sat out Philadelphia’s 122-99 loss at Miami on Tuesday while Jimmy Butler (lower back tightness) scored four points in 16 minutes of action. “The thing that’s most on my mind is the health of the players,” 76ers coach Brett Brown told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Always has been, and it’s my job to deliver them to a playoff setting that they’re ready to throw punches. And sometimes that comes at an expense of always being able to put your best players on the floor.” Chicago is closing out another disappointing season, with plenty of regulars on the sidelines as well, and it has dropped seven of the last eight games after a 96-86 loss at home to the NBA-worst New York Knicks on Tuesday. The Bulls, who dropped two of three against the 76ers this season, including a 116-96 loss Saturday, own the fourth-fewest wins in the league and have not had leading scorer Zach LaVine (23.7) since March 18 due to a thigh injury.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, NBCS Philadelphia
ABOUT THE BULLS (22-59): Forward JaKarr Sampson has made an impact since joining Chicago after a stint in the NBA G League, averaging 20 points in four games after scoring 11 on Tuesday. “I feel like it’s all about right place, right time, right coach, right situation, right opportunity,” Sampson, who scored 29 against Philadelphia on Saturday, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “And I feel like right now, that’s what you’re all seeing. … I’m getting the minutes. And I’ve been working on my game, too.” Former Villanova guard Ryan Arcidiacono is averaging 11.3 points over the last seven games - almost five above his season mark.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (50-31): Swingman Ben Simmons scored 16 in just 21 minutes while forward Tobias Harris added six points on 3-of-16 shooting in 20 minutes during Tuesday’s loss and both are expected to be rested in the regular-season finale. Center Greg Monroe led the way with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 19 minutes Tuesday in his second game with Philadelphia after scoring nine Saturday against the Bulls. Power forward Jonah Bolden, who scored 11 in the win over Chicago last weekend and had averaged 10 the previous three games, did not score Tuesday in 13 minutes before leaving the contest with left knee soreness.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Chicago SG Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, a 76ers draft pick, is averaging 12.6 points over the last five games.
2. Philadelphia SG Zhaire Smith scored a season-high 11 points and dished out two assists in Tuesday’s loss.
3. Bulls G Shaquille Harrison was held to eight points by the 76ers, but is averaging 13.3 over the last seven contests.