Sixers vs. Bucks Preview: Lineups, injury report and how to watch Saturday night

The Sixers are 2-0 and host the 0-2 Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Xfinity Mobile Arena. LeBron James has been ruled out, and it is the first back-to-back of the season for Philadelphia, with the Pistons coming Sunday.

How to watch Sixers vs. Bucks

Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. ET. The game is on NBC Sports Philadelphia and NBA TV, and the radio call is on 97.5 The Fanatic. The Sixers will wear the white Association Edition uniforms, and Milwaukee will wear the green Icon Edition.

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Sixers injury report: LeBron James out, Dean Wade questionable

James is out Saturday for injury management. He had been listed as questionable with low back/sciatica management. Wade is questionable with a left ankle sprain. Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tear), Dominick Barlow (low back stress reaction) and Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain) are also out.

Joel Embiid is not on the injury report. He has said he will play in only one of the two games this weekend, and it is not clear which one. The Bucks had not submitted their injury report as of the latest update.

Probable Sixers starting lineup

The probable lineup published Saturday morning was Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Adem Bona. With James out, Nick Nurse needs a new fifth starter. Embiid was not on that list.

If Wade also sits, Nurse gets a look at smaller lineups. That could mean minutes for Jabari Walker, Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who are still looking for a rhythm. First-round pick Labaron Philon has not played a regular-season minute, and a comfortable lead is his best path to a debut.

What the Sixers have done through two games

The Sixers trailed by 10 in the second quarter against the Knicks on opening night and still won 106-100. Against the Cavaliers on Thursday they trailed by as many as 29 in the first half and won 114-106.

Maxey has carried the load with 28 and 32 points, and he is averaging 30 after a career-high 28.3 last season. Nurse said Maxey has taken “a level of confidence and maturity jump.” Against Cleveland, Embiid added 24, Brown 21, and James 17 points with 10 rebounds. Edgecombe is averaging 10 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 34 minutes per game.

Two slow starts in two games is a pattern the Sixers should fix quickly. Saturday is a good chance to do it against a weak defense.

Bucks preview

Milwaukee sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat for Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, additional players and four draft picks. The Bucks lost to the Wizards, then lost 132-125 to the Bulls on Friday night. They are giving up about 130 points per game.

The offense is working. Herro scored 34 against Chicago. Jaquez had 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, and Kyle Kuzma had 14 and nine. The probable starters are Ryan Rollins, Herro, Kuzma, Jaquez and Myles Turner.

Sixers vs. Bucks pick

The pick is the Sixers. Milwaukee is on a quick turnaround after Friday’s game and cannot stop anyone right now. The Sixers should win without James, and the bigger question is how Nurse spreads the minutes with Sunday coming.

The Sixers then host the Pistons on Oct. 25, visit the Pacers on Oct. 28, host the Knicks in an NBA Cup game on Oct. 30, visit the Hornets on Oct. 31 and host the Bulls on Nov. 2.