The Washington Wizards rolled into Philadelphia on January 7, 2026, ready to face the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. With tipoff set for 7:00 p.m. EST, fans tuned in via NBC Sports Philadelphia, Monumental Sports Network, and an array of streaming services. A midweek NBA clash, sure, but this matchup had its own set of intriguing storylines—injuries, star power, betting angles, and recent history all swirling together.
Philadelphia entered the night as heavy favorites, carrying a 20-13 record against the spread and a -592 moneyline. The Wizards, meanwhile, were pegged as underdogs at +440, but their recent form—7-3 against the spread in their last 10—suggested they might have a little fight left in them. The Over/Under for the game was set at a lofty 234.5 points, a nod to both teams’ offensive potential and defensive lapses.
On the injury front, both squads had some question marks. For the 76ers, Trendon Watford was questionable with a thigh injury, and Kelly Oubre Jr. was also listed as questionable due to a knee issue. The big story, though, was Joel Embiid. The reigning MVP candidate was expected to play, but the Sixers continued to manage his minutes carefully—after all, Embiid was averaging 23.4 points per game and remained the anchor on both ends of the floor.
The Wizards’ medical report was even more concerning. Kyshawn George was sidelined with a hip injury, Cam Whitmore was out with a shoulder problem, and Corey Kispert was questionable due to a nagging hamstring. With depth an ongoing issue, Washington leaned heavily on its younger core, especially Alex Sarr, who led the team in both scoring and rebounding. Sarr’s emergence has been one of the few bright spots in a tough campaign for the Wizards.
Philadelphia may not be among the Eastern Conference’s elite this season, but they’ve been a tough out at home. Even on the second night of a back-to-back, the 76ers were expected to take care of business. The winning team model gave them a 72.6% chance of victory, though the same model suggested the Wizards had a 58.3% shot at covering the spread—an intriguing split for those watching the betting lines.
Digging into the numbers, the Wizards’ struggles on defense have been glaring. They entered the game allowing 124 points per contest, among the worst in the league. The stats told an even bleaker story: Washington was 3-40 when allowing 15 or more fastbreak points in the 2023-24 season, the lowest mark in the NBA. When giving up 15 or more second chance points? Just 21-103 since the start of last season. And if they allowed 15 or more three-pointers, their record was a woeful 8-71. Clearly, the Wizards’ margin for error was razor thin.
On offense, Washington leaned on CJ McCollum, who led the team at 18.8 points per game and was hitting 39.3% of his threes. Alex Sarr chipped in 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, shooting just under 50% from the field. But the real question was whether the Wizards could keep up with the Sixers’ firepower, especially with their depleted roster.
Philadelphia’s attack, meanwhile, revolved around Tyrese Maxey, who has been a consistent thorn in Washington’s side. Maxey came in averaging 31 points, 7 assists, and 3.3 made threes per night. That’s a handful for any defense, but especially for a Wizards squad that’s struggled to contain dynamic guards. Embiid’s presence inside, both as a scorer and a shot-blocker, only added to the Sixers’ edge.
Statistically, the Sixers had their own quirks. They averaged 12 turnovers per game in the 2023-24 season, the second-best rate in the NBA, showing a disciplined approach with the ball. On the flip side, their 23.2 assists per game last season was the second-lowest mark in the league, suggesting a more isolation-heavy or star-driven offense. In terms of shooting efficiency, they averaged 1.28 points per shot this season, tied for the eighth-lowest in the league, but still above the Wizards’ defensive resistance.
Rebounding was expected to be a slight advantage for Philadelphia, though not a runaway. The Sixers’ interior defense, averaging 6.1 blocks per game, posed a real challenge for the Wizards’ slashers and big men. With Embiid patrolling the paint and Maxey pushing the tempo, the Sixers looked poised to dictate the game’s flow.
Looking at the historical context, Philadelphia had already beaten Washington twice this season, and the expected result for this matchup was a 124-112 Sixers win. Yet, the Wizards’ recent road win over Orlando showed they could surprise when shots were falling. Betting trends also pointed to some interesting prop opportunities, with Maxey’s over/under set at 28.5 points—a mark he’s been clearing regularly.
For those following the betting angles, the Wizards’ best bets included hitting the third quarter moneyline in 22 of their last 41 away games and cashing the moneyline in 13 of their last 36 road contests. The 76ers, on the other hand, had been money in the second quarter, hitting the 2Q moneyline in 29 of their last 37 and covering the 2Q spread in 28 of those games. Both teams had their statistical sweet spots, but the Sixers’ consistency at home made them the clear favorites.
As the teams took the floor, all eyes were on the matchups that would determine the outcome. Could McCollum find enough daylight against the Sixers’ interior defense? Would Sarr continue his breakout campaign against Embiid’s imposing presence? And could Maxey keep up his torrid scoring pace against a Wizards defense that’s struggled to contain perimeter threats?
With the action underway, fans and analysts alike watched for the little things—turnover battles, second-chance opportunities, and who would win the hustle stats. The Wizards needed to limit fastbreak points and keep the Sixers off the offensive glass, while Philadelphia aimed to control the tempo and let their stars shine.
As the game played out, the Wizards’ resilience was tested, and the 76ers’ depth and star power came to the fore. With the matchup still ongoing, it remains to be seen whether Washington can pull off a shock or if Philadelphia will notch another home victory. One thing’s for sure: with both teams fighting through adversity, every possession matters, and the outcome is still very much up for grabs.
Stay tuned as the action unfolds at Xfinity Mobile Arena—this one’s not over yet!