Sixers vs. Thunder tonight.

Chalk it up as a loss with no Joel Embiid and no Boban Marjanovic. I just don’t see your team, your town beating OKC on the road without their best player and his backup.

Philly falls to 39-23 after dropping this one, which sets up a very intriguing Saturday night matchup against the Golden State Warriors.

I’m trying to think of the overriding factor for that game, choosing from these:

  1. Does Embiid return?
  2. If he does, is he rusty?
  3. Do the Warriors want revenge for the loss at Oracle?
  4. How tired are the Dubs?

Golden State is 3-3 in their last six and currently three games into a four-game east coast swing. They lost to Miami on a buzzer beater last night and now play the second half of a back-to-back against Orlando this evening.

I really don’t know what to expect, but let’s say the Sixers rebound from an OKC loss and beat the dragging Warriors at home. They improve to 40-23 with this in front of them:

Tuesday, March 5th, vs. Magic

Win.

Sixers improve to 41-23.

Wednesday, March 6th, at Bulls

Win.

Sixers improve to 42-23.

The Bulls are horrible, HOWEVER – they’ve won four of five and Lauri Markkanen is playing well. Might be a little trickier than originally thought, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. The Sixers are 3-6 on zero day’s rest.

More after the jump:

Friday, March 8th, at Rockets

Loss.

Sixers fall to 42-24.

They didn’t have to face Chris Paul and Clint Capela in the home win vs. Houston.

Sunday, March 10th, vs. Pacers

Win.

Sixers improve to 43-24.

They beat Indy twice on the road with Victor Oladipo and they’ll get it done this time around at home, despite what happened back in December.

Tuesday, March 12th, vs. Cavaliers

Win.

Sixers improve to 44-24.

Friday, March 15th, vs. Kings

Win.

Sixers improve to 45-24.

They will beat Sacramento at home on two-day’s rest.

Sunday, March 17th, at Bucks

Loss.

Sixers fall to 45-25.

Milwaukee comes off a three-game road trip and will be playing at home for the first time in more than a week. I just don’t see the Sixers beating them out there.

Tuesday, March 19th, at Hornets

Win.

Sixers improve to 46-25.

They’ve won 10 in a row against Charlotte going back to the 2016-2017 season.

Wednesday, March 20th, vs. Celtics

I have no idea. It’s a home game, but you hate the fact that it’s the second night of a back-to-back.

I will go with “win,” simply because I don’t think the Sixers will fall to 1-9 combined against the Bucks, Raptors, and Celtics on the year. That’s not possible, is it?

Actually, how about this –

I think the Sixers split this two-game jaunt. Either they win in Charlotte and lose to Boston, or they lose in Charlotte and beat the Celtics at home. Both scenarios bring them to 46-26.

Saturday, March 23rd, at Hawks

Win.

Sixers improve to 47-26.

Monday, March 25th, at Magic

Win.

Sixers improve to 48-26.

Thursday, March 28th, vs. Nets

Win.

Sixers improve to 49-26, despite once again getting abused by Brooklyn guards.

Saturday, March 30th, at Timberwolves

Win.

Sixers improve to 50-26. A motivated Jimmy Butler steps it up in his return to Minnesota.

Monday, April 1st, at Mavericks

Loss.

Sixers fall to 50-27.

I feel there’s a slip-up coming at this point in the schedule. Maybe it’s now, maybe it’s later, but if the Sixers win against Brooklyn and Minnesota, I could see a disappointing loss in the next game or two. Let’s say they lose this one, just for the sake of the exercise.

Wednesday, April 3rd, at Hawks

Win.

Sixers improve to 51-27.

Thursday, April 4th, vs. Bucks

Loss.

Sixers fall to 51-28.

Again, same thing as the Boston game, the Sixers have to play this one on the second night of a back-to-back. Otherwise, I’d chalk this up as a great home win.

Saturday, April 6th, at Bulls

Win.

Sixers improve to 52-28.

Tuesday, April 9th, at Heat

Win.

Sixers improve to 53-28.

Wednesday, April 10th, vs. Bulls

Win.

Sixers finish 54-28 and earn the three seed in the Eastern Conference, giving us a playoff bracket that looks like this:

Sixers beat the Nets in six, then lose to the Raptors in seven. That’s what my gut is telling me right now.