Sixers look to win season series vs Nets

New month, same ole Nets. The Brooklyn Nets came home from the circus road trip to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night. Brooklyn came up short in front of the home fans and lost 109-100. The Nets are currently on a four game losing streak.

Waiting for the Nets will be the Philadelphia 76ers. It's the same story with them and they'll be spending the next month watching college basketball like the rest of us. They lost their last game on Saturday night to the Detroit Pistons.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV, WFAN 101.9 FM on radio. Tip off after 7:30.

Injuries

Wayne Ellington was under the weather over the weekend and didn't play on Sunday. No word on his availability for tonight. Still no word on when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will be back. Jerami Grant is out for the Sixers.

Jahlil Okafor will be undergoing surgery on his right knee and will miss the rest of the year. Robert Covington had to be stretchered off the court on Friday, but is feeling a bit better. He's in the NBA concussion protocol and it's unlikely he plays tonight. Jerami Grant was injured along with Covington and hasn't played since last Friday. Richaun Holmes is dealing with a sprained Achilles and his availability is unknown.

The game

Here we go

The Nets won the first meeting while the Sixers have won the last two.

Philadelphia has won two games over the past month and a half, and both of those victories have come against the Nets. Yikes.

The Sixers are still horrible, but they have a bushel of draft picks coming their way, and if management plays their cards right, they'll be back competing sooner rather than later. I sure hope it's sooner because the discussions about the ethics of tanking have started to become tiresome.

Brook Lopez will be looking to get back on track after a bad ending to Sunday's game. He scored a team high 20 points but didn't score in the fourth as Milwaukee dared the rest of the Nets to beat them. With Philadelphia's front court besieged by injuries, Lopez is in line for another huge game. Nerlens Noel will be at the Center position again with Okafor out, and it's probably where he's best suited at this point in his career.

Sean Kilpatrick has been a pleasant surprise for the Nets. He was the D-League's leading scorer when he was called up, and has kept it up with the Nets. He's coming off of a 19 point game in which he made a season high three three pointers. As a team, you take good talent whenever and where ever you can find it, and the Marks administration has pledged to search far and wide for the best players.

Player to watch: Elton Brand

If you're any fun, you like to play a game called "He's Still in the League?!" It's when we see a guy we could've sworn had retired in the game or on the sidelines. Past He's Still in the League All Stars include Charlie Villaneuva, Richard Jefferson, Joel Anthony, and Javale McGee. We can now add Brand to that illustrious group. Until recently, I had no idea Brand was in the 76ers organization, but here we are. There's been a lot of talk about the lack of veterans on the Sixer roster and how detrimental it can possibly be to young players new to the game. Brand discussed some of that in an article he wrote for Sports Illustrated's The Cauldron in January:

I’m not coming here to hold Jahlil’s hand — or anyone else’s, for that matter — because that’s not what he needs. But I do believe my experience and wisdom can benefit him and my other young teammates. It’s about communicating with them like men, starting to grow together, and — hopefully, eventually — winning some ballgames. That’s what Sam Hinkie and I talked about when he approached me about joining the team, and what has me so excited about this opportunity.

He'll see some playing time tonight due to the injuries suffered by Okafor and Covington, but not too much. Thaddeus Young has continued to play well for the Nets and will look to control the glass for Brooklyn.

From the Vault

LL Cool J did a fake retirement announcement yesterday, and that's a good enough excuse to listen to songs off of "Mama Said Knock You Out" again.

More reading: Liberty Ballers

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes - Brooklyn Nets
• Philadelphia 76ers Game Notes - Philadelphia 76ers
• 76ers-Nets Preview - Jeff Mezydlo - STATS LLC
• How Sean Kilpatrick’s journey finally led him home, with Nets - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• Sean Kilpatrick shooting his way into future with Nets - Brian Heyman - Newsday
• Nets guard earning his keep - Andy Vasquez - The Record
• Tragedy to triumph for Bronx baller - Steve Goodstein - Bronx Times
• Preview: Nets vs. Sixers - Cory Wright - Brooklyn Nets