Oddsmakers list winless Sixers as favorites over struggling Lakers
The Philadelphia 76ers haven't won a game in over eight months and are shattering records of futility left and right.
But they're still favored by oddsmakers to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday.
It goes without saying neither team has played particularly well this season. The Lakers have just two wins against 14 losses, whereas the Sixers have dropped 18 straight to start the year and have lost 28 games dating back to March of last season.
As for the tale of the tape, well, neither team necessarily measures up favorably.
| Statistic (on the season) | Sixers | Lakers |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive Rating | 90.6 | 96.7 |
| Defensive Rating | 102.9 | 107.4 |
| Net Rating | -12.1 | -10.6 |
Looking at the last five games, however, paints a different picture. The Sixers have lost all five, but they've held a lead in the fourth quarter each time, providing some surprisingly stingy opposition against some fairly respectable teams.
| Statistic (last 5 games) | Sixers | Lakers |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive Rating | 92.5 | 95.0 |
| Defensive Rating | 96.5 | 111.1 |
| Net Rating | -4.0 | -16.1 |
Ultimately, the stats suggest it will be a poorly played contest between two horrendous teams. At least there's the angle of Kobe Bryant's final game in his hometown of Philadelphia to watch out for.