Why the Sixers slump breaks our hearts

The big picture: The skidding Sixers are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings after dropping nine of their last 14 games, including Thursday's 131-109 loss to the Pistons, heading into Saturday's matinee affair against the dreadful Nets.

• And there's no bottom in sight. All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey is out for the next three weeks with an injured right pinkie. Kelly Oubre Jr. is sidelined for two weeks after hurting his elbow.
• It's a toss-up whether injury-prone Joel Embiid plays any given night, and Paul George can't return from his 25-game suspension until March 25.

Reality check: Now we come to the real rub.

• For Valentine's Day, my girlfriend bought us Sixers tickets to Saturday's game — and now I'm missing out on my big Maxey moment.
• 😓 Way to turn kindness into sadness, love into the type of misery author Paul Sheldon felt while trapped in Annie Wilkes' cabin.

• I'll chalk it up to the universe evening things out after I scored stupendously cheap tickets a couple seasons ago — 10 rows from courtside.

The bottom line: It's just a game.

• But if this keeps up, Sixers fans will be again rehearsing their best Jim Mora impression all summer: Playoffs?!

If you go: Tip-off Saturday is 1pm at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Tickets: $14+.