NBA Matchups: March 9

PHI @ CLE | MEM @ BKN | DEN @ OKC | GSW @ UTA | NYK @ LAC

Philadelphia 76ers (front end) at Cleveland Cavaliers (back end)

Team Totals:

Injury Report: Tyrese Maxey (O, finger), VJ Edgecombe (Q, back), Cavs on a B2B

76ers projected starters: VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr., Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona (Note: Could be Cam Payne over Grimes)

Cavs projected starters: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley

Nurse quotes: Said Maxey is getting X-rays on his hand.

Atkinson quotes: Said guys like Strus, Merrill, and Keon have humility for how tough their path was, said Allen still had soreness and he’s not concerned about it long term, said Mitchell has been through a lot and he’s been able to do more weights while he has been out, said they have struggled to rebound against the Celtics.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Cavs are dealing with a lot of injuries and had a day game against Boston yesterday, but at least there was no travel. The Cavs have seen their offense slip in the last six games due to poor finishing around the basket, and they are getting nothing in transition. The 76ers have been awful at protecting the basket this year and also haven’t been great on the ball, which should set up the Cavs for their on-ball options. We’ll see if Donovan Mitchell plays on a B2B, and Jarrett Allen could miss this one, too. For the 76ers on offense, they’re in bad shape with Tyrese Maxey out. They don’t have great options to get their own shot, and they’re likely going to be one of the worst offenses in the NBA while Maxey and Joel Embiid are out. It might be the Quentin Grimes Show again.

*Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes are going to have to carry a ton of usage. Grimes should see a softer matchup, and it might even be Sam Merrill or Mitchell on him. Oubre also should play a ton, and Nick Nurse just doesn’t have great perimeter options. Oubre should be one of the best options on the slate for mid-priced guys.

*Adem Bona’s matchup is very unclear with how the Cavs play it on Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Bona has gapped Andre Drummond a good bit, and Drummond is a little too old/slow to hang with these Cavs guards. The Cavs are also a terrible team at limiting offensive rebounds, and the B2B for Cleveland should work to his advantage.

*We’ll have to see what’s up with the Cavs on the injury report. The 76ers are just getting crushed inside, so it would set up great for Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. 

*Donovan Mitchell could certainly sit this B2B out, which would obviously put James Harden in a fantastic spot in a revenge game.

Great matchups: James Harden, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley

Good matchups: Adem Bona, Kelly Oubre Jr.

Bad matchups: Dominick Barlow

Memphis Grizzlies (front end) at Brooklyn Nets (front end)