Five things to watch: San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers

San Antonio has won just two of its last 14 matchups against Philadelphia. Can they turn the tide against Joel Embiid and company?

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs (15-13) are visiting the Philadelphia 76ers (9-17) on Monday night in the teams’ first meeting this season, with the Silver & Black hoping to reverse history against Joel Embiid and company. 

Philadelphia has won 12 of the last 14 head-to-head matchups between the two teams, going back to January 2018. San Antonio is riding a two-game winning streak that’s shot it into the top nine teams in the West; a win in Philadelphia would be there first against the Sixers since Oct. 22, 2022, when Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson combined for 43 points. 

Tipoff at the Wells Fargo Center is set for 6 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on the FanDuel Sports Network and 1200 AM. 

GAME REWIND

The Spurs are coming off a 114-94 win at home over the Trail Blazers, a game that saw Victor Wembanyama go off for 30 points, seven rebounds and 10 blocks. He became just the sixth player in league history to notch a 30-point, 10-block line in a game. 

Harrison Barnes added nine points and three rebounds, and Chris Paul had six and nine assists in the win. 

Jeremy Sochan added 10 points, Devin Vassell recorded 11, Charles Bassey had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Julian Champagnie finished with seven and three rebounds.

Head coach Gregg Popovich was out as he continues to recover from his November stroke. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson continues to assume head coaching duties for the game, and will do so again on Monday. 

“Everybody contributed to this game; whether you played two minutes or 48 minutes, it didn’t matter. Everybody contributed,” Vassell said. “That was a big-time win. Each game we’re building, each game we’re learning.”

“We’ve played them (Blazers) very regularly. There weren’t going to be any surprises in this game on one side or the other,” Wembanyama said. “So we knew that on offense for us, the answer would not be to play one-on-one like we used to. So moving the ball was really important, and I think we did a good job at it from the first minute.”

RELATED: Spurs 114, Blazers 94: What they said after the game

INJURY REPORT

The Spurs will be at full strength as they kick off a big week that will also see them visiting the New York Knicks in a marquee Christmas Day matchup. 

Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP averaging 22.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game this season, is available after suffering a sinus fracture. Point guard Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia’s top scorer this year, is probably as he contends with illness. 

Shooting guard Eric Gordon and standout rookie Jared McCain have also been ruled out for Monday night’s game for the Sixers. 

THE UNIFORMS

The Spurs will be in their Icon Edition jerseys on Monday night.

LOCKED ON SPURS PREVIEWS SPURS-76ERS

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FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

1. The 76ers have been out-rebounded in two straight games.

2.  The 76ers are 0-8 at home when trailing after the third period.

3. The 76ers are 0-7 versus Western Conference teams this season.

4. The Spurs have recorded fewer turnovers in their last three outings.

5. The Spurs are 12-3 versus teams with a sub .500 record.

What do you think, Spurs fans? Let us know on X at @KENS5 and @JeffGSpursKENS5.

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