7 p.m, Wells Fargo Center

TV: SportSouth. Radio: WFNZ-AM 610

Projected Starters

Matchup to Watch

Elton Brand vs. Tyrus Thomas: Thomas is coming off an impressive game against the Washington Wizards, with 13 points, nine rebounds and nine blocked shots. Does he build on that, or revert back to the player who's had little impact this season?

Observations

The Sixers' Doug Collins is the early favorite for NBA coach of the year. This team lacks for a star, but Collins' team has excelled as an ensemble. Collins' passion for basketball permeates this roster.

Bobcats coach Paul Silas indicated he'll call more plays and give rookie point guard Kemba Walker less latitude to shoot constantly off high pick-and-rolls, after the Bobcats lost back-to-back games by a combined 50 points.

Hey, remember when Bobcats center Byron Mullens could shoot? He's made five of his last 19 shots from the field.

Matt Carroll's 7-of-10 shooting night vs. the Wizards came out of nowhere. He'd made five of his previous 21 shots. A rare start - filling in for an injured Gerald Henderson - clearly agreed with him.

The Bobcats were 4-of-20 from 3-point range in the loss to the Knicks and Wizards. They led a total of 54 seconds in those two games.

Tap-ins

Sixers center Spencer Hawes missed a loss to the Nets with an Achilles tendon strain.

A small sign of progress: The Wizards game (25 free-throw attempts) was the fourth time in seven games the Bobcats have reached the foul line at least 20 times. Previous to that, they had reached 20 free throws only four times in 12 games.

The Bobcats have given up 104 points in the lane over their last two games. Talk about porous defense.

Did you know?

The Sixers will pound you if you give them the chance. Their point-differential through 17 games (+203) was the ninth-best in the NBA dating back to the 1985-86 season.

Rick Bonnell