Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
The Brooklyn Nets host the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday for the second time this month, with the 76ers embroiled in controversy and coming off a bad loss.
If conventional sports wisdom holds any sway at all, it was likely the Brooklyn Nets were going to be hosting a surly Philadelphia 76ers squad Sunday night at Barclays Center.
It was three weeks ago that the Nets laid a 122-97 shellacking on the 76ers in Brooklyn, with that Nov. 4 game marking both the largest margin of victory for the Nets this season and the most lopsided loss thus far for Philadelphia.
Throw in the fact that the 76ers are coming into the game off their first loss at home this season, an inexplicable 121-112 loss on Friday to the hapless Cleveland Cavaliers — who came in an NBA-worst 2-14, and it’s a recipe for Philly to be downright testy.
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Much has changed for the 76ers since that loss three weeks ago.
On Nov. 12, Philadelphia pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade, acquiring All-Star Jimmy Butler along with Justin Patton from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick.
The 76ers are 5-2 since the deal and 4-2 since Butler was activated. Philadelphia is just 3-7 on the road this season, but 3-2 since the loss to the Nets three weeks ago.
Of course, Brooklyn has a big difference in the lineup since blowing out the 76ers — shooting guard Caris LeVert, who had 20 points in the win, will be sidelined for some time to come after sustaining a subtalar dislocation of his right foot two weeks ago.
Here are three things to watch as the 76ers (13-8) make their final visit to see the Nets (8-12) in Brooklyn this season.
