The Sixers’ road to ruin continues tonight in Milwaukee

The Sixers’ season has run its course and is now wandering through the city’s sewers, in case you’re wondering about the smell. Philadelphia has lost five straight games and fell to 15-25 on the season. At this point, the only reason even the play-in tournament is still a possibility is in the hope that the Chicago Bulls finally come to their senses and sell their mediocre carousel. It’s not just the Process sufferers who are talking about this club possibly rolling out the tanks, but also serious NBA insiders. The situation is frankly unimaginable given the expectations of the summer.

Things don’t get any easier for the Sixers tonight as they made a quick turnaround after last night’s loss to the Pacers. Playing the second game of a road game in a row leaves teams facing defeat even in the best of times, and these certainly aren’t the best of times. Yesterday, Paul George and Guerschon Yabusele were on the OUT section of the injury report alongside Joel Embiid, Caleb Martin, Kyle Lowry, KJ Martin and Jared McCain. We’re another Tyrese Maxey injury, save for Franklin the Dog, who has to commit to the “backward, over-the-head, half-court throw” offense. I’ve enjoyed the rise of Justin Edwards, but it’s not a good sign when an undrafted two-way guy who looks like an NBA rotation player is your only positive story in January.

Milwaukee is doing far better; The Bucks’ likely roster for tonight includes Giannis Antetokounmpo (right patellar tendinopathy), Khris Middleton (treatment of bilateral ankle injuries) and Marjon Beauchamp (illness), while AJ Green (left quadriceps strain) and Andre Jackson Jr (right hip contusion) are questionable . The Bucks have won three straight games and are currently 23-17 in 4th place in the Eastern Conference. They have made a complete turnaround since their slow start to the season and the rumors that the Giannis-Dame pairing might not work. It kills me that Doc Rivers is probably looking at this Sixers season and saying, “Look, I was the only one who held it all together over there.”

The only consolation for the Sixers is that most fans probably won’t pay much attention to this game since the Eagles have a playoff game in the afternoon. I think a lot of us felt in August that this could be the year that Josh Harris finally makes it out of the second round, but might not make it against Philadelphia. Granted, Philadelphians were heavily supportive of Harris and the Commanders last night, as the Eagles could now potentially host an NFC Championship Game. Between the Sixers’ new South Philly stadium deal and Washington’s unexpected run, Harris has one hell of a 2025 ahead of him so far. I hope some of his good fortune rubs off on his basketball team on the court, but it feels more like this Sixers season may have been the sacrifice he made to the sports gods. Anyway, Sixers-Bucks: We’re made for this.

Game details

When: Sunday, January 19, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Regard: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Consequences: @LibertyBallers