The Golden State Warriors will end the year by hosting the Philadelphia 76ers at Oracle Arena tomorrow night. They will be looking to string consecutive victories after losing two in a row in Los Angeles and although they still hold the best record in the league, they must widen their cushion.
The 76ers don’t present much of a threat, but you cannot take an opponent lightly, as seen in the loss against the Lakers. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they will not be at full strength. According to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle, Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli will not play in tomorrow’s game:
Neither Andrew Bogut or Festus Ezeli practiced today, and both will miss tomorrow’s game vs. Philadelphia.
— Rusty Simmons (@Rusty_SFChron) December 29, 2014
Ezeli is still battling an ankle sprain, but it doesn’t seem to be a serious issue. Bogut on the other hand recently had platelet rich plasma therapy on his right knee and there is no timetable set for his return.
The Warriors don’t need the big men to beat the Sixers, they’ve only won four games this season. This is the perfect game for them to miss and it will give Ezeli another few days to nurse the ankle. However, both players are instrumental to their success down the road, so hopefully they will be back on the floor soon.