Wednesday's showdown at the Wells Fargo Center will feature the Philadelphia 76ers hosting the Golden State Warriors.
So far, Golden State, with a 22-24 record, is basking in the glow of a 109-98 triumphant victory over the Brooklyn Nets last Monday.
The Warriors are currently ranked 12th in the competitive Western Conference standings in the NBA'S WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS.
Elsewhere, Philadelphia, with a 30-19 record, is looking to bounce back from a 118-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. The Sixers are comfortably in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Warriors On Possible Rise
The Warriors previously defeated the 76ers by a score of 119-107 on January 30. In that matchup, Golden State exhibited an impressive 55.7% shooting accuracy overall, with an outstanding 43.8% from beyond the arc.
Adding to their prowess, they made 17 of 19 free throw attempts and outscored Philly 56-46 in the paint. The question remains whether the Warriors are on an upswing.
Looking deeper into the stats, Golden State boasts a points per game average that ranks eighth, with a shooting percentage of 47.2%, ranking 18th.
In addition, he exhibits an outstanding 37.3% effectiveness from the three-point line, ranking 10th. His prowess is manifested in a 79.2% conversion rate on free throw attempts, ranking 10th.
He also shows an impressive average of rebounds per game, reaching the fourth position with 46.4 units, and stands out in assists with an average of 28.4, placing him in the seventh place, while his 14.5 turnovers place him in the 23rd position.
Defensively, the Warriors concede an average of 118.4 points per game, ranking 21st.
Their opponents registered a 47.2% shooting percentage, ranking 16th, and 35.8% from long distance, also ranking 16th in this category.
He also averages 4.0 blocks, ranking 27th, 6.6 steals for 27th and 20.7 fouls per game for 25th.
In the metrics department, the Warriors claim 11th in offensive rating, 20th in defensive rating and a respectable 12th in pace (adjusted for schedule), according to league data.
The stage is set for an intriguing showdown between these two formidable contenders.
THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS ARE NOW 11TH PLACE IN THE WEST🎉🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/MNV926AyKW
- TheWarriorsHouse (@GSWarriorsHouse) February 7, 2024
76ers Still Without Embiid
In the absence of Joel Embiid, the key question arises: who will step up to lead Philly?
The Philadelphia team exhibits offensive power, averaging nearly 119 points per game with a shooting accuracy of 47.5%. Their prowess from the three-point line stands at 36.4%, and they boast an impressive 83.2% free throw conversion rate.
Team dynamics also include an average of 43.1 rebounds, 24.8 assists and a surprisingly low 11.9 turnovers per game.
Defensively, the 76ers give up about 113.4 points per game on 47.1% shooting by opponents.
Notably, their defense remains solid from beyond the arc, allowing only a 34.5% success rate.
The team exhibits defensive prowess with 5.9 blocks and leads the league with 8.9 steals per game. However, fouls seem to be a challenge, averaging 20.9 per game.
When analyzing their overall performance metrics, the Sixers rank among the best in offensive rating, defensive rating and pace, according to perceptions of the league's numbers.
Embiid's absence provides an opportunity for others to step up, leading the team through this phase.