Los Angeles Lakers vs Philadelphia 76ers: Preview, TV Schedule & Where to Watch
The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to avoid history as they try to get their first win of the season after 19 games when they host Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. This will be the first road game for the Lakers since Bryant announced on The Player's Tribune that he will be retiring from basketball at the end of the season.
Bryant is coming home to Philadelphia for the last time in his storied career, but the Sixers will try to spoil it and improve their 0-18 start to the season in front of an expected sold-out crowd at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers are also losers of 28 straight games, dating back to last season which is a record for the four major sports in the U.S.
"It's an honor to sort of welcome him back to Philadelphia to begin with. Kobe's legend has lived in that city for many years, and will continue to live there. For him to come back and play his first game after announcing his retirement, it's a privilege for all of us," Sixers coach Brett Brown told NBA.com.
Philadelphia is coming off a 92-84 loss against the Memphis Grizzlies last Sunday, a game they were leading late before the Grizzlies rallied late in the fourth quarter. Isaiah Canaan led the Sixers in scoring with 16 points and four 3-point field goals made.
The Lakers have lost six straight games and 10 of its last 11 including a 107-103 loss on Sunday against the Indiana Pacers at the Staples Center. Jordan Clarkson had 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Nick Young also scored 22 points off the bench.
Bryant air-balled a potential game-tying 3-pointer with six seconds left to play that reminded everybody why the "Black Mamba" is ready to retire at the end of the season as he scored 13 points on 20 percent shooting. "I've known for a while. A decision like this, you can't make that decision based on outside circumstances," Bryant said after the game.
"It has to be an internal decision, and finally I've decided to accept that I can't actually do this anymore and I'm OK with that. It takes a weight off my shoulders and everybody else's," he added. Bryant was born and drafted 13th overall out of Lower Merion High School in 1996.
"It's going to be beautiful. So much of my game was developed from Philadelphia," he commented on his final game at his hometown. The Lakers have won six in a row against the Sixers including three straight at Philadelphia.
Tip-off starts at 7:00 p.m. ET and is available nationally on NBA League Pass and Sportsnet One in Canada. It will be also broadcasted locally on CSN, Time Warner Cable SN and TWC D.
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