NBA Live Game Thread: Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30 PM EST

The Brooklyn Nets didn’t quite get off the hot start to the 2021-22 NBA Season that they were expected to. After a loss to the defending champs, Milwaukee Bucks, on the road the Nets now head to Philadelphia where they take on the 76ers.

Philly is dealing with a Ben Simmons issue - much like the Nets are dealing with a Kyrie Irving one - but even without Simmons they still remain as a top contender in the East. Thanks to Joel Embiid.

Brooklyn will look to get things going on the offensive side of the ball in hopes to get the score to a pace where the 76ers just won’t be able to hang.

WHO: Brooklyn Nets (0-1) at Philadelphia 76ers (1-0)

WHEN: 7:30 PM EST

WHERE: ESPN (national), YES (local), WFAN-FM (radio)

Game Preview.

Player to watch: Joel Embiid

How do you top a season in which you were the runner up to MVP? That’s the question Joel Embiid will look to answer as he leads the 76ers. For as great as he is, he did struggle down the stretch of that Hawks series and turned it over 16 times in the last two games. If you can swarm him and crowd his space, you might have a chance at slowing him down enough. If you don’t, you’ve got a big that can score on all three levels and is an absolute battering ram in the post that will wear out any defender you put in front of him. The Process has proven himself over and over again and as the 76ers drive into an uncertain future, having Embiid lead the way will be a source of comfort for Philadelphia.

The Nets frontcourt rotation will get a workout tonight. For the past two seasons, DeAndre Jordan was supposed to be the big that got this matchup. Now that DJ is out west with the Los Angeles Lakers, we’ll see how Steve Nash and the coaching staff handle this. Nicolas Claxton got the start on Tuesday, but didn’t play the best despite putting up decent numbers. Steve Nash has mentioned the rotations are pretty fluid, so it wouldn’t be a shock if LaMarcus Aldridge got the start here.

For more on the 76ers, check out Liberty Ballers.