Tyrese Maxey’s return to action wasn’t enough to propel the 76ers to victory, as the Grizzlies handed Philadelphia its fifth straight loss Wednesday.

What’s more concerning for the 76ers is that Paul George suffered a hyperextension in his left knee during the second half, forcing him to leave the game and not return. 

It’s worth noting that George had the same injury during the preseason, which kept him out of the first five games. 

Therefore, Philadelphia can expect to exercise some caution regarding George’s availability ahead of Friday’s game against the Nets. 

Interestingly, the 76ers held a team meeting before the Grizzlies game to address their poor start and air out some grievances. 

Nets vs. 76ers odds

Generally, that type of Kumbaya session can help galvanize a team, but it did not significantly impact Philadelphia’s results. 

The 76ers sit at 2-12 entering Friday’s game, which is the worst record in the NBA. Even the Wizards and the Jazz are ahead of them at this point.

Philadelphia looks fractured at the moment, and given the injuries to their star players, I suspect they haven’t had many opportunities to practice together.

Thus, getting everyone on the same page is likely to take some time. 

Betting on the NBA?

Although the 76ers have a talented roster on paper, their current form makes them tough to trust while laying points.

Philadelphia ranks dead last in offensive efficiency (104.7), while the Nets rank eighth (114.6) with Cam Thomas leading the way at 24.6 ppg. 

Take the Nets and the points in this matchup.

THE PLAY: Nets +4.5 (-115, DraftKings)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Arinze handicaps most major sports for the New York Post. He’s cashed two 15-leg teasers in his betting career as well as a 12-leg parlay that included eight Little League World Series games. More recently, he accurately picked finalists in the 2024 European Championships and Copa America.