76ers vs Hornets tonight: shorthanded Sixers visit Charlotte on Halloween
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- The 5-1 76ers face the 3-3 Hornets at 6 PM ET in Charlotte, live on NBA TV.
- LeBron James and Joel Embiid are out to rest on the second night of a back-to-back.
- Tyrese Maxey leads a thin Philly squad against a Hornets team missing its starting backcourt.
The Philadelphia 76ers visit the Charlotte Hornets tonight at 6 PM ET. The game tips off at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. You can watch it across the country on NBA TV.
No, LeBron James will not play. Neither will Joel Embiid. Both stars are resting on the second night of a back-to-back.
That is the main reason "76ers vs hornets" is trending today. Fans want the injury news, the TV channel, and the game time. Here it all is, in plain English.
What happened on Friday night
The Sixers beat the New York Knicks 98-93 on Friday. It was Philadelphia's first NBA Cup game of the season. Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points to lead the way.
LeBron James added 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. NBC Sports Philadelphia reports Coach Nick Nurse called it James's best game as a Sixer. Anfernee Simons scored 21 points off the bench.
The win pushed Philadelphia to 5-1. It was their second win over New York this season. Their only loss so far came at the Detroit Pistons, 106-93 on October 25.
Charlotte had a rough Friday. The Hornets lost 95-79 on the road to the Washington Wizards. It was their lowest-scoring game of the season, per Athlon Sports.
It was also their second straight loss. The defeat dropped Charlotte to 3-3. Brandon Miller led the Hornets with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Naz Reid added 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals. So both teams played last night. Tonight is the second game in two nights for each side.
Who is out and who steps up
Philadelphia will be short-handed. James is out to rest his sore lower back. Embiid is out with a sore right foot.
Dominick Barlow is out with a back injury. He may miss two weeks, per Delawareonline. Ariel Hukporti is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
Three more Sixers are questionable. Jaylen Brown has a sore left knee and missed Friday's game.
Jabari Walker has the same knee problem. Tacko Fall has a strained left quad.
If Brown sits again, Wade and Caldwell-Pope should see bigger roles, per Athlon Sports. Delawareonline lists the likely Philly starters: Maxey, Edgecombe, Wade, and Bona at center. Maxey will have to carry the scoring.
Charlotte is hurting too. Coby White is out with a calf strain. Kon Knueppel is out with a hamstring strain.
Knueppel will miss his seventh straight game to start the season. Grant Williams is out with a hamstring strain. Kylan Boswell is out with a knee injury.
None of them has played this season. That leaves the Hornets without their starting backcourt. Dennis Schroder, Sion James, and Grayson Allen should see more minutes, according to Athlon Sports.
The likely Charlotte starters: Schroder, Sion James, Brandon Miller, Naz Reid, and Moussa Diabate. Miller must lead the scoring. Diabate leads the league in offensive rebounds, per Athlon Sports.
How to watch
Tipoff is 6 PM ET on Saturday. The game is at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On TV: NBA TV carries it across the country. In Philadelphia, watch on NBC Sports Philadelphia. In Charlotte, it airs on WSOC Channel 9 and WAXN.
To stream: Fubo has the game. NBA League Pass carries it as well. DAZN has the Charlotte feed.
Friday's Sixers win was an NBA Cup game. For the full season picture, see our NBA season viewing guide.
Why it matters
A 5-1 start is a statement. The Sixers look like a true contender in the East. Their defense gives up just 105 points per game.
That is third-best in the league, per Athlon Sports. But tonight tests their depth.
Two stars rest, and a third starter might sit. A road win with this roster would prove the fast start is real.
History is on Philly's side. The 76ers are 10-1 against Charlotte since December 2023. They won the last meeting 118-114 on March 28.
But back-to-backs are cruel. Both teams are tired, and the Hornets are home. Charlotte is desperate to stop a two-game slide.
Watch the scoring race inside the game. Maxey is tied for second in the league in scoring this season. Miller ranks fifth, per Athlon Sports.
With James and Embiid out, Maxey must carry the Sixers. Miller must do the same for Charlotte. The stars are out, so the next men up decide it.
The LeBron subplot adds spice. He joined Philadelphia this season. At almost 42, the 22-time All-Star is still elite.
His 20-point night against New York showed why the Sixers signed him. Tonight they must win without him. The signing has put Philly back in the national spotlight, Delawareonline notes.
For Charlotte, this is a free swing. Nobody expects a banged-up 3-3 team to beat a 5-1 contender. But the contender is missing its two best players.
A home win tonight would be Charlotte's biggest result of the young season. Expect the Hornets to push the pace against tired legs.
What happens next
Tipoff is 6 PM ET. Expect a slow start, since both teams played Friday. Defense should rule the early minutes.
For Philadelphia, the mission is simple. Survive the back-to-back and move to 6-1. Maxey runs the show, and the bench must give real minutes.
Simons was huge on Friday with 21 points. The Sixers need him again. After tonight, they host the Chicago Bulls on November 2 at 7:30 PM ET.
For Charlotte, the plan is clear. Push the pace and attack tired legs. Get Miller hot early and crash the glass.
Diabate's rebounding can create second chances. One data model gives Charlotte a narrow 110-108 win, Athlon Sports reports. With this many stars out, the role players will decide it.
Tune in at 6 PM ET on NBA TV. A short-handed contender meets a hungry home underdog. Someone's role players will become the story of the night.
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