Philadelphia 76ers: Top 5 games to watch in 2018-19

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3. Jan. 29 at Los Angeles Lakers

By the end of January, a lot of teams across the league will be in playoff mode. That’s why all eyes will be on the Sixers meeting with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 29 in a primetime game on TNT.

James and the Lakers will be under the microscope all season long. A Sixers’ victory will work wonders for their profile in the hunt for the NBA title. Philadelphia split its four games with the Cleveland Cavaliers and James in 2017-18 regular season, but never got a shot at them in the postseason.

In a potential NBA Finals preview (using the term very loosely), it’s the future in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid vs. “The King” LeBron James. As a bit of foreshadowing, Simmons averaged 17.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game last season against the Cavaliers. He put up 27 points, 15 rebounds, 13 assists and four steals in their final meeting on April 6 in a 132-130 victory.

The Lakers have a different roster, but Philadelphia returns with largely the same rotation it had for much of the regular season last year. Embiid posted a career-high 46 points and seven blocks along with 15 rebounds and seven assists last year against the Lakers back in November as well.