For the third year running, the Philadelphia 76ers will open their NBA campaign with a meeting against the Milwaukee Bucks as the sides lock horns at the Wells Fargo Center in Thursday's heavyweight encounter.
Having both largely underperformed last season, both teams enter the new campaign with high expectations and renewed optimism as they look to mount a significant championship charge this time around.
Match preview
After winning consecutive games against the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets prior, the Philadelphia 76ers closed out their pre-season journey with a 114-99 defeat against the Orlando Magic on Saturday at Kia Center.
Despite losing Tyrese Maxey through injury early on, Nick Nurse's men rallied to stay within three points of their opponents at half time before a slow start to the second half saw them trail by 14 at the end of the third quarter.
A 3-3 record from six warm-up outings is a decent return for the 76ers, who will now turn their attention to Thursday's curtain-raiser against the Bucks off the back of first-round playoff exits for both teams last season.
The 76ers have made some additions ahead of the upcoming campaign, with Paul George leading the set of new faces following his move from the Los Angeles Clippers in one of the biggest deals of the off-season.
Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond all also made the switch to Philadelphia, while Guerschon Yabusele was rewarded for his impressive Olympics campaign with a second shot at NBA action after leaving the Boston Celtics in 2020.
All in all, the 76ers have assembled a strong roster, but much of their success will come down to the fitness of erstwhile MVP Joel Embiid, who played just 39 regular-season games last time out as he had to deal with injury concerns.
The Milwaukee Bucks missed out on the opportunity to wrap up their preparations for the new campaign with a second straight win after they were beaten 109-84 by the Dallas Mavericks in Friday's meeting at the American Airlines Center.
With Doc Rivers opting to rest both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the Bucks were largely short-handed in offence as Gary Trent Jr's meagre 12 points led the team in scoring, closely followed by Anzejs Pasecniks.
That was a third loss in four pre-season outings for the Bucks either side of their solitary triumph over the Chicago Bulls at the Fiserv Forum on Tuesday, leaving them in need of a pick-me-up heading into the new campaign.
An opening-day encounter against the 76ers is far from a straightforward challenge to navigate, but the Bucks will be buoyed by their record in this fixture of late, having emerged victorious from each of the last four editions.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the top scorer in three of the aforementioned four games, and the 'Greek Freak' will need to put on a show once again if his side are to make a winning start to their NBA season.
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Team News
All-star point guard Tyrese Maxey played just five minutes in the 76ers' pre-season finale last time out due to a right thumb contusion but will be available for Thursday's affair alongside Joel Embiid.
Having taken part in drills during yesterday's practice, first-round draft pick Jared McCain is nearing a return to action from a lung problem that he sustained against the Nets.
Paul George could have to wait for his first taste of competitive action after recently hyperextending his knee, although an MRI has since revealed no structural damage occurred.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis were all given a rest in the Bucks' defeat to the Mavericks and are expected to return here.
However, Khris Middleton remains a doubt as he continues to work his way back up to full fitness after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on both of his ankles.
Philadelphia 76ers possible starting five:
Maxey, Gordon; Oubre Jr., Martin; Embiid
Milwaukee Bucks possible starting five:
Lillard, Trent Jr.; Prince, Antetokounmpo; Lopez
We say: Bucks to win by 3+ points
The 76ers have not fared well in this fixture of late and will be keen to avoid yet another defeat against a Bucks side who will set out to deliver an early statement of intent.
With Paul George missing out and Joel Embiid having no pre-season action under his belt, we are backing the Bucks to claim a narrow win when all is said and done here.
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