The Sixers are looking for that elusive second win against the Charlotte Hornets before the return of Joel Embiid

The Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers late Friday night, falling to 7-1 on the season. Although it’s been a miserable start, there is a light at the end of the tunnel as this will be the last game without Joel Embiid, who will return on Tuesday against the New York Knicks. Somehow the team is only three games behind the third seed in the Eastern Conference – with a chance to make up ground tonight.

Following the trend at the beginning of the season, the Sixers will once again be shorthanded. The aforementioned Embiid will not be available and Tyrese Maxey will not play as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Paul George should be available, but he waives a “25-30 minute” limit. It’s unclear if this only applied to a few games or if this will be a general theme going forward.

The Sixers’ difficult start has a lot going for it, especially with Jared McCain and Guerschon Yabusele. McCain is coming off the best regular season game of his young career, scoring 18 points in the Sixers’ loss. Yabusele was the Sixers’ best center early on, outperforming Andre Drummond in almost every game. While the threat of injury kills some excitement early in the season, giving these rotating players big minutes could pay off in the long run.

The Hornets’ rebuild seems to be going well. The team is led by LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Ball has averaged 28.4 points per game while shooting 12.4 from three. Miller has often been compared to Paul George as a long forward capable of making outside throws. Both seem to have found their rhythm and have put in some great performances recently.

Like the Sixers, the Hornets will be shorthanded. They will be without Miles Bridges (bone bruise) and starting center Mark Williams, who is dealing with a foot injury. Without Williams, the Hornets are missing some size, meaning this could be a game where Andre Drummond can shine.

The Hornets certainly have a talent advantage in this game, but it’s actually a winnable game that the Sixers could steal. Even though their big names are convincing, the Hornets are below average in both offensive and defensive ratings this year.

Keeping Ball under control will likely determine the Sixers’ ability to steal a win here. Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin and Paul George will likely take turns guarding the former All-Star.

Embiid will be back soon, and a win before his return would alleviate much of the pressure that has been building due to recent losses. Let’s see if the Sixers can steal this one.

Game details

WHO: Charlotte Hornets vs. Philadelphia 76ers

When: 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

Regard: NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN

Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Consequences: @LibertyBallers