Match details-

Fixture: Philadelphia 76ers vs Dallas Mavericks

Date & Time: Friday December 20, 2019, 8:00 PM ET (Saturday, 1:00 AM GMT)

Venue: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia

Preview-

The fifth placed team in the Eastern Conference will be facing the fifth placed team in the Western Conference on Friday. Both Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers after losing their previous games. Mavericks, however, will be relatively high on confidence after they ended Milwaukee’s 18-game winning streak in spite of Luka Doncic‘s absence. In the last six games, Dallas have won games alternatively. If the pattern is to continue, the sixers game should end up in another victory.

For Philadelphia, the last two games might have been ended in a loss, but nine of their 10 previous games returned positive results. They have so far won 20 out of their 29 games in the league so far. Their last game against Miami Heat ended in a 104-108 loss against Miami Heat. Joel Embiid continued his all round performance with 22 points and 19 rebounds. He has been well supported by the likes of Al Horford and Ben Simmons.

Injury updates & team news-

Philadelphia 76ers-

Injuries: No injuries

Expected starting line-up:  Josh Richardson, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Al Horford, Joel Embiid

Dallas Mavericks-

Injuries: Luka Doncic (Ankle)- Out, Delon Wright (Sprained finger)- Questionable, Set Curry (Lower back)- Questionable

Expected starting line-up: Tim Hardaway Jr., Jalen Brunson, Kristaps Porzingis, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell.

Predictions-

As things look, a tough contest awaits on Friday. Doncic will certainly be missed on the floor, but the Mavericks, unlike what many had thought, still seem to be a strong team. Kristaps Porzingis has stepped up offensively in absence of his Spanish teammate. He has been leading the team offensively in the last two games. Their offensive power might once again win a match for them against the 76ers on Friday.