Sixers discuss challenges that Wizards present ahead of matchup

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they play host to the Washington Wizards. The Sixers took a tough double overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday and had Monday off before preparing for the Wizards.

The Wizards, meanwhile, had to play on Monday as they knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks 129-126. The win improved Washington to just 3-16 on the season as it continues its rebuild with a young and talented core.

As far as the challenges the Wizards present to the Sixers, they play a fast brand of basketball. Washington is No. 4 in the league in pace so it will look to use its athletes to get up and down the floor. That is something Philadelphia is going to be aware of in this contest.

"I mean, they just beat Milwaukee last night," Dominick Barlow said at shootaround on Tuesday morning. "So they're a competitive, young group, playing really hard, pushing the pace, so we just gotta be able to match their energy."

The Wizards are led by young players such as Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington, flanked by proven veterans CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton. The 3-16 record is more so an indication of the fact that they are unable to close out games and execute in crunch time. Not for a lack of talent.

With that being said, the Wizards are dead last in the league in defensive rating so the Sixers should have the opportunity to have a big performance on the offensive end.

"Just getting back," Barlow added. "I think that's the biggest challenge in itself. Just getting back, understanding when we shoot the ball, if it's a miss, and we don't get the rebound. We got to have guys back."

Tip off from the Xfinity Mobile Arena is set for 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers discuss challenges that Wizards present ahead of matchup