Aside from it being the Josh Minott career game, the Nets’ matchup with the Atlanta Hawks was a pretty forgettable bout. With the absence of Michael Porter Jr., Ziaire Williams, and Nolan Traore, Brooklyn was pretty much doomed from the start, especially with Atlanta on a surge to take the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference standings.

Oddly enough, the team they are competing with for said seed is the very opponent Brooklyn will face in this early afternoon I-95 matchup. Today, the Nets will take on the Philadelphia 76ers as they will look to avenge their 22 point loss against the Detroit Pistons and play a matinee in the City of Brotherly Love.

Catch the early action today at 1:00 p.m. ET on the YES Network and NBA League Pass, as well as streaming on the Gotham Sports App.

Nic Claxton (rest), MPJ (right ankle sprain), Drake Powell (left knee management) will all be out tonight. Egor Demin and Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb UCL tear) are of course out for the season. The two-ways should be available and we may see the NBA debut of combo guard Malachi Smith, called up from Long Island Friday. He’ll be wearing No. 18. If he plays, he’ll be the eighth Nets player to make his NBA debut this season, following the Flatbush Five, Grant Nelson and Chaney Johnson.

Bad news for the 76ers as well.

Joel Embiid (oblique), Tyrese Maxey (right pinkie finger), Kelly Oubre (left elbow sprain) will be out. Adem Bona (back) and old friend Andre Drummond (back) are questionable.

Today will be yet another Nets game where there is an injury fest. With most of the X factors unavailable, the quality of basketball that both teams play will determine the winner. Early weekend afternoon games are usually not so great either

The 76ers have been under immense pressure as of late with the amount of losses they have accumulated at this point of the season, as well as the decisions of the front office.

Most recently, the President of Basketball Operations decided to let go of former first round draft pick Jared McCain and send him to the Thunder. That decision has led to McCain averaging 11.2 PPG (five points higher) and a higher three point percentage 42.3 % compared to 37.8% earlier this season.

Meanwhile, the tank — excuse us, playing the probabilities — continues. The Nets are two and a half games out of the top spot in the Draft lottery. If they lose to Philly, they’ll be tied once again with the Wizards for third, at least until this evening when Washington plays Boston starting at 6:00 p.m. ET. Brooklyn has 16 games left.

Even though his light is not as bright as it was in the beginning of the season and both Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have taken the spotlight, V.J. Edgecombe is still a name that must be talked about in this rookie class. With averages of 15.3 PPG, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, Edgecombe just has that “it” factor you can’t teach. Blessed with extraordinary athleticism and feel for the game, Edgecombe also has a competitive nature that allows him to rise to the moment, hence All Star Weekend.

If they want to keep the playoff hunt pushing, the 76ers will have to rely on this young rookie to ball out against Brooklyn.

I can’t talk about Philadelphia without using one of the city’s main anthems. This one is for the rap lovers.

More reading: Liberty Ballers, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Philadelphia 76ers Game Notes – Philadelphia 76ers
• Philadelphia and Brooklyn square off in conference showdown – AP
• Nets’ Josh Minott hoping career night can be first building block for future – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Chaney Johnson earns a longer look as Nets’ injuries open minutes ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets trade acquisition turns in breakout performance while auditioning for new contract – Erik Slater – Clutch Points