76ers Face Bulls Amidst Injuries and Losing Streak

PHILADELPHIA, February 24, 2025 — The Philadelphia 76ers will host the Chicago Bulls on Monday evening for an Eastern Conference matchup crucial for both teams as they contend for spots in the NBA play-in tournament. Philadelphia (20-36) currently sits 12th in the Eastern standings, while Chicago holds the 10th seed with a record of 22-35.

Tipoff at the Wells Fargo Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Philly enters the game as a five-point favorite, in line with the latest odds from SportsLine, and the over/under for total points scored is set at 234.5.

Historically, the Sixers have performed well against the Bulls, winning and covering the spread in their last three encounters. However, the absence of star center Joel Embiid, who was ruled out following knee imaging, looms large for Philadelphia. Coach Nick Nurse indicated that Embiid will undergo continued evaluation as the team explores potential next steps.

“He did have some testing earlier today, which ruled him out for tonight’s game,” Nurse said. “There’s still further testing tonight and continuing tomorrow.” Despite his ongoing health issues, Nurse emphasized that they aren’t ready to declare the end of Embiid’s season.

“Not at that point at all,” he added. “We’re just trying to figure it out and move forward.”

Embiid’s left knee has troubled him for much of the season, with Nurse noting the player’s frustration over the lack of progress. He is averaging 23.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, but his shooting percentages have dipped to career-lows of 44.4% overall and 29.9% from three-point range.

In addition to Embiid, Tyrese Maxey is also uncertain for tonight’s game due to a finger injury, while several other players remain sidelined. The Sixers have dropped their last seven games, including a narrow loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, where Embiid did not play in the fourth quarter after tweaking his knee.

The Bulls, meanwhile, are facing their own difficulties, having lost six consecutive games as they undergo roster changes after trading Zach LaVine at the deadline. Chicago’s focus has shifted towards developing younger talent for the future. Nevertheless, Nikola Vucevic, who has not been traded, is enjoying a standout season, averaging 19.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

Statistic models project a total of 222 combined points for the game, leaning towards the under. As both teams look for a critical victory, the outcome could hinge on the performance of role players like Kelly Oubre Jr., who stepped up recently in place of a sidelined Embiid. The current state of both rosters underlines the urgency for a win.

As the Sixers try to shake off their losing streak, they will lean heavily on their remaining stars and strategy adaptations. Nurse stated, “Our best version of our team is with Embiid, but we’re working with what we’ve got right now.”