After taking off the week for the 2021 NBA All-Star break, the Philadelphia 76ers are expected to return to court Thursday night with a matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Thursday’s game marks the start of the second half of the 2020-2021 NBA season.
Going into the matchup, the Sixers hold a 24-12 record, which is good enough to keep him as the top team in the Eastern Conference. While they’ve been in the top spot for quite some time now, the Brooklyn Nets are just half a game back, and the Milwaukee Bucks route is just two games.
If the Sixers are to stay at the top, they need to keep winning while Brooklyn breathe down their throats. Unfortunately, it will be difficult for Philly to start the second half with a win as they plan to face the Chicago Bulls on the road while they are on the short term.
Sixers All-Stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid have ruled for the game Thursday since they came into contact with a case of COVID-19. Last weekend, they were incorporated into the NBA’s health and safety protocol and quarantined for seven days.
At full strength on paper, the Sixers are the advanced team for the Bulls 16-18, but Chicago will play as their favorites Thursday. Obviously, the lack of Simmons and Embiid has a lot to do with that.
Last month, Chicago and Philly faced for the first time this year and the Bulls did not return without a strong challenge for the Sixers.
It took Joel Embiid a 50-point night for the Sixers to emerge with a 112-105 victory in the first meeting between those two teams. So knowing that the Sixers will be without Embiid and Simmons makes it hard to imagine that the Sixers with seeds are not walking into a trap game Thursday night.
Game info
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls
Date: Thursday, March 11, 2021
Time: 8:00 PM EST.
Location: United Center
As you look
76ers TV Broadcast: NBC Sports Sports
76ers Listen: 97.5 Am Fanatach
Bulls TV Broadcast: NBC Chicago Sports
Bulls Listen: WSCR-AM 670
Stream 76ers: Click here
Bull stream: Click here
Odds
Share: CHI -3.5
Moneyline: CHI -160, PHI +135
O / U: 228.5
* All Odds are provided by BetMGM