Sixers Open Regular Season Tonight Against Oklahoma City
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia 76ers will raise the curtain on their 2016-17 regular season tonight as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Philadelphia is coming off a 10-72 season, but there are reasons to be excited about this group. That conversation starts with big man Joel Embiid. The #3 overall pick in the 2014 draft out of Kansas, Embiid has sat out the last two seasons with foot problems, so he is set to make his NBA regular season debut tonight. Embiid is expected to play twenty minutes.
Related: 'The Process' Begins Tonight
Also making his NBA regular season debut tonight will be forward Dario Saric. The #12 overall pick in the 2014 draft (Sixers acquired him in a draft night trade from Orlando), Saric has spent the two seasons since the draft playing overseas.
You won't see Ben Simmons or Nerlens Noel tonight. Simmons, the #1 overall pick in this year's draft, is sidelined after having surgery on a fracture in his foot. Noel is recovering after having surgery on his left knee. Point guard Jerryd Bayless is also out as he works his way back from a wrist injury.
KYW's Matt Leon spoke with Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News about what to expect out of the 76ers tonight and this season.