After taking a few days off on Wednesday night to reflect on their dismal loss to the then-4-0 Detroit Pistons, the Philadelphia 76ers are back in action on Saturday, hosting the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Sixers' headlines continue to revolve around the players who haven't taken the court yet, with Joel Embiid and Paul George still sidelined. They have already been ruled out of Saturday's competition, albeit with the promising update for the duo involved in five-on-five fights in training.

The Grizzlies themselves are pretty banged up, with key players like Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart out and several other supporting cast members out due to injuries. However, they will have Ja Morant, who is averaging 20.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 9.4 assists per game to start the season. Morant is trying to make amends for a lost 2023-24 season that began with a 25-game suspension and ended with a torn labrum in his right shoulder after just nine games on the floor.

And despite the injuries, he has a good squad around him. Memphis will have 7-foot-4 rookie center Zach Edey, who could pose a challenge for a Sixers squad that is significantly smaller without Embiid on the field. The strategy against him might be to get him into foul trouble as quickly as possible, as the rookie has become accustomed to dealing with bigger, stronger NBA players. Jaren Jackson Jr. has also been impressive for the Grizzlies so far, averaging 18.8 points on a 56.0% field goal percentage in four contests after missing the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury.

Memphis starts the season at 3-3 on Saturday and recently handed the Milwaukee Bucks their fourth defeat in a row on Thursday evening. Seven Grizzlies players scored in double figures, led by Morant with a triple double of 26 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, in a commanding 122-99 victory in this game.

The most promising thing for the Sixers right now is that Tyrese Maxey appears to have finally settled into a groove shooting mode. After the field goal shooting percentage fell below 33% in the first two contests of the season, something clicked midway through the third game. In the third and fourth games of the season, he shot 44% and 48% from the field, respectively. It's going to be hard for this undermanned Sixers team to accomplish anything if their shots aren't falling, so fans can hope that Maxey continues down this path.

Oh, and this is also next week's last game starting before 10 p.m. ET, as the Sixers will make a trip to the West Coast after hosting Memphis earlier in the season.

The Sixers and Grizzlies kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Game details

WHO: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

When: 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: The Center, Philadelphia, PA

Regard: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Consequences: @LibertyBallers