Sixers Eye Opportunity vs. Slumping Kings, While Justin Edwards Prepares for a Familiar Challenge
PHILADELPHIA - When the Philadelphia 76ers take the floor Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings, they’ll be facing a team searching for answers. The Kings are riding a six-game losing streak and will be without starting point guard Russell Westbrook, who’s sidelined with a right foot issue. That absence leaves Sacramento shorthanded at the top, but far from toothless.
Even without Westbrook, Sacramento still brings plenty of offensive firepower. Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan all remain capable of shifting a game’s momentum. And it’s DeRozan, the 17-year veteran still putting up 19.1 points and 3.9 assists per game on a sharp 50.5% shooting clip, who presents the biggest challenge - especially for a young Sixer who’s come full circle since his first real NBA minutes.
That player is Justin Edwards. The second-year forward has steadily carved out a role in Nick Nurse’s rotation, known for his defensive energy and ability to knock down the three. But rewind to January 1, 2025, and Edwards was just getting his feet wet - earning his first meaningful minutes in a game against, you guessed it, DeRozan and the Kings.
That night in Sacramento turned out to be more than just a footnote. It was a launching pad.
“They were telling me to be disciplined,” Edwards recalled after shootaround Thursday morning. “Like really disciplined on DeMar last year because he likes to do a lot of shot fakes and stuff. That was really the thing last year, but this year, I feel like I’ve learned a lot.”
Now with a standard NBA contract in hand and a growing role off the bench, Edwards is leaning into the challenge that once introduced him to the league. And he’s got a pretty valuable resource in his corner - longtime DeRozan teammate and Sixers veteran Kyle Lowry.
Lowry, who knows DeRozan’s game better than just about anyone, hasn’t been shy about sharing his insights with the young forward.
“He’s really helpful, honestly,” Edwards said. “He’s always like, ‘Stay down.
He’s gonna get to his spots. He’s gonna shot fake, shot fake, shot fake.’
So he’s been emphasizing on the stay down part of guarding DeMar.”
That kind of mentorship matters - especially when you’re tasked with defending one of the league’s craftiest scorers. DeRozan may not be the high-flying wing he once was, but his footwork, mid-range mastery, and ability to bait defenders into biting on fakes remain elite.
For the Sixers, this game is more than just a chance to capitalize on a struggling opponent. It’s a measuring stick for a young player like Edwards, who’s trying to turn flashes of promise into consistent production. And it’s another opportunity for Philadelphia to stack wins in a crowded Eastern Conference race.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Keep an eye on the Edwards-DeRozan matchup - it’s a small subplot, but one that could say a lot about where this Sixers team, and one of its rising contributors, is headed.