Minnesota is looking to avoid falling into the Play-In Tournament and the Sixers are looking to avoid losing their first-round pick. Let’s make everyone happy.
Only five games remain for the Philadelphia 76ers in this 2024-25 season. The finish line is in sight. Sure, everyone else crossed the finish line a while ago and are sitting comfortably in the grass enjoying a post-race banana, but it will still feel like an accomplishment to run through the tape. The Sixers are sure rounding that final turn in style.
Thanks to a current 10-game losing streak, the Sixers chances’ of having more lottery combinations than the Brooklyn Nets seems all but assured. The Nets have two more wins than the Sixers at the moment, and given the current rate of things, it would take (performs a quick calculation) 17 months for Philadelphia to catch them. Where things stand, the fifth-worst record in the league would result in a 63.9 percent chance in the Sixers retaining their top-six-protected first round pick. I’ll patiently await the parade details. Yet now, we have our sights set on New Orleans and a chance to drop to the fourth-worst record. The Pelicans are themselves a couple games below the Sixers in the standings, but hey, something might as well go right this season, right? Dare to dream.
We won’t have to worry about a duel tank going on tonight. The Minnesota Timberwolves are locked in a tight group looking to having to fall down into the Play-In Tournament out West. Currently, the Warriors, Grizzlies, Wolves, and Clippers are all within a game of each other, and two of those four teams are going to be Play-In participants. Sure, the Mavericks, Kings, or Suns aren’t exactly striking fear in the hearts of their opponents right now, but why risk dropping a pair of fluky games and missing the playoffs altogether. Plus, no one wants to have to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
So the Wolves are going to be going all out and the injury report reflects it, with Terrence Shannon Jr. (out – groin) the only listed member for Minnesota. Meanwhile, the Sixers have their usual entire rotation’s worth of players unavailable. Hardship exceptions are the order of business in Philadelphia this spring.
Adem Bona set a career-high with 28 points last game against Milwaukee. Quentin Grimes continues to get buckets, and Guerschon Yabusele looks to have a little more life back in his legs. We’re not going to tell our grandchildren about these developments, but they’re what we have to work with in these dog days of a dying season.
Every win is crucial for Minnesota right now, just as every loss is essentail for Philadelphia. I feel like these two sides can come together and let everyone head home happy. You feel for these young guys and players trying to showcase themselves at the NBA level who are playing hard for the Sixers, but with Cooper Flagg also playing ball tonight, the Sixers need to keep maximizing their chances of grabbing him (or the other top prospects in this loaded draft). The lottery will be here before you know it.
Game Details
When: Saturday, April 5, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: The Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC 10
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers