Friday night marks another slate of NBA Cup action. At last, the Philadelphia 76ers are getting a break from the bright courts, as they are going to sit back and watch the other four teams in East Group B battle it out.
As the lone team in the group with two games played, the Sixers are stuck in the middle with one win and one loss. Unfortunately, the way they won and lost is a problem for their point differential.
When the Sixers defeated the Knicks, it was a low-scoring and tight 98-93 victory. Then, they went into Cleveland last Friday and took a beatdown. Starting slowly against the Cavaliers wasn't anything new for the Sixers, but they didn't have miraculous comebacks in store that time around.
Due to the Cavaliers' 119-95 blowout against the 76ers, Philly is sitting third in the group with a -19 point differential. Only the Indiana Pacers are worse, as they lost by 20 points against the Miami Heat.
Friday's slate matters for the Sixers' chances of making it out of the group stage. For Sixers fans who need to watch hoops with some meaning attached, Friday's slate of games offers that opportunity.
Where should Sixers fans tune in?
New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers
At 7 PM ET, the Knicks and the Pacers are going to tip off for their Cup action. This year, the Knicks are 6-5 on the season. They started slow, which wasn't totally unexpected. Teams can be prone to championship hangovers.
When it comes to this set of opponents, the Sixers have had a lot of success so far this year. They faced the Knicks twice, and won both of those games. While the Pacers were very shorthanded in the first Indiana-Philly meeting, the Sixers won as expected.
They won't face the Knicks for Cup action again, but the 76ers and the Pacers will meet on November 27 for tournament play. The Sixers will get a chance to see the Pacers in action beforehand, as they host the Pacers on Sunday afternoon to open up a back-to-back set.
Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers
At 8 PM ET, the Heat and the Cavs will fire up their competition. These are the two teams that have the best positioning in the standings.
The Cavaliers are at the top at +24, thanks to their big win over the Sixers. They just got a slight edge over the Heat, who took out their early-season frustrations on the Pacers back in late October.
The Heat and the Cavs are off to similar starts this season. The Cavs are sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 6-6 record. They've split their last 10 games. Miami is No. 7 in the East, with a 5-6 record. They enter Friday's action on a two-game winning streak.
Delaware Blue Coats vs Maine Celtics
Not close enough to the Sixers for you? Try some minor league action, then!
The 76ers' NBA G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, are going to have some special guests on board for their Friday night battle. Following the Sixers' Thursday night win over the Toronto Raptors, the 76ers assigned Justin Edwards and Labaron Philon Jr. to the Blue Coats.
Philon is a rookie who has had limited playing time this year. The Blue Coats are going to offer him his first meaningful playing stint since landing in the pros. Plus, the 76ers should get a chance to see their two-way players in action. Tacko Fall is a name to keep an eye on, as he plays a position that could certainly use some help on the primary roster.
The Blue Coats and the Celtics are set for a 7 PM ET tip.
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