The Cleveland Cavaliers have a big game ahead of them on Friday night when they head to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers. The game will essentially be a battle for the third seed in the Eastern Conference, and both teams will be heavily shorthanded for the matchup.
According to the Fred McLeod of Fox Sports Ohio, point guard George Hill will remain out on Friday night after suffering an ankle sprain earlier this week. Guard Jose Calderon is also out with hamstring tightness that’s hampered him the last few days.
Meanwhile the Sixers will be without star center Joel Embiid, who is recovering from a concussion and surgery to repair an orbital fracture. Forward Dario Saric (Cellulitis, or a right eblow infection) who was previously listed as out, will not play, but guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (patellar tendinitis) remains out.
The Cavaliers, currently in the three seed with a 49-30 record, and the Sixers, currently the four seed with a 48-30 record, will be playing for the fourth and final time on Friday night. Cleveland leads the season series 2-1 and would take a huge step towards securing the third spot in the East if they defeat the 76ers tonight with just two games left in the regular season.
The 13-year NBA veteran has filled in nicely for the Cavs this season whether it’s been Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Rose, or George Hill missing time. In the team’s game against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, Calderon came up big with 19 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Since being traded to the Cavs, Hill is averaging 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 three-pointers across 22 games on 44 percent shooting. Calderon has appeared in 52 games for the Cavs this year, including 32 starts, and is averaging 4.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 51.1 percent shooting.