The Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards are in two very different places and have different priorities in this week’s NBA Summer League. While the 76ers have consistently come up short in the playoffs, at least they have several foundational pieces in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Washington is still looking for its franchise guy.
The two teams will face off tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET in each team’s third game of Summer League action. So far, Philadelphia is 0-2 with the worst point differential of any team, while the Wizards are 1-1.
Still, Philadelphia is a one-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook (-112 on the Moneyline), with the point total set for 185.5. The Wizards are -108 on the Moneyline. Below, I’ll break down this Eastern Conference clash with a preview of each team and offer a prediction.
76ers-Wizards Roster Breakdown
The 76ers’ roster is headlined by third overall pick VJ Edgecombe, who put up 28 points in his Utah Summer League debut before being shut down for the rest of the tournament with a thumb sprain. He has not appeared since but was a full participant in practice, according to the team, so it’s possible (though unlikely) that he could play tonight. The team’s X account posted a video of him this morning trading triples with Jared McCain, a 2024 first-round pick who excelled in 23 games before being shut down with a meniscus tear.
Without Edgecombe, Philadelphia has relied on second-round pick Johni Broome, as well as Justin Edwards, who started 26 games for the 76ers last season and had career highs of 25 points and 10 boards. Plenty of other players with NBA experience, including reserve center Adem Bona and former 17th overall pick Jalen Hood-Schifino, also feature on Philadelphia’s roster. So far, Judah Mintz has led the team in scoring with an inefficient 16.5 points per game, while Broome has contributed 9.0 points per game, making four of his five three-point attempts. Edwards has chipped in with 10.0 points per game but has struggled inside the arc and posted just a one-to-three assist-to-turnover ratio.
That talent pales in comparison to Washington’s Summer League roster. Last season’s second overall pick, Alex Sarr, is playing, as are fellow first-round picks Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, and AJ Johnson. That’s not to mention arguably the most promising of the bunch, 2025 sixth overall pick Tre Johnson. Tre Johnson has been a standout so far this Summer League, averaging 19.5 points per game on 58-46-60 shooting splits through the first two games, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Wizards shut him down after tonight. George has chipped in 17.0 points and four steals per game, while Sarr set a Summer League record with an eight-block performance. Carrington has been quiet overall but has made four of his nine triples, and AJ Johnson has shown flashes as well.
76ers vs. Wizards Pick
Washington Wizards Moneyline (-108)
Unless Edgecombe unexpectedly plays, there’s a huge talent differential between these two squads. It’s somewhat of a surprise that Sarr hasn’t been shut down for Summer League yet, given that the Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs didn’t feel a need to include fellow top-five picks Zaccharie Risacher and Stephon Castle on their rosters and that the Dallas Mavericks shelved Cooper Flagg after two games, but all indications are that each of Sarr, Carrington, George, AJ Johnson, and Tre Johnson will play tonight. The quartet of Sarr, Carrington, George, and AJ Johnson was poor in its 48 minutes of NBA action last season, but that’s still more combined experience than any quartet on Philadelphia’s roster has.
