(SportsNetwork.com) - The Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets will lock up in an Atlantic Division battle Friday at the Barclays Center, just one night after the two teams made a trade.
On Thursday, the Nets sent veteran forward Andrei Kirilenko, point guard Jorge Gutierrez, a 2020 second-round pick, and the right to swap second-rounders in 2018 to the 76ers in exchange for forward Brandon Davies and cash.
Kirilenko fell out of head coach Lionel Hollins' rotation and he was away from the team for personal reasons. It is unknown when, or if, he'll report to the 76ers.
The Nets signed guard Darius Morris to fill the roster spot vacated by the trade.
The Nets need some kind of help as they're in the midst of a three-game swoon. Brooklyn fell at home to the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, then lost in Chicago, 105-80, Wednesday night.
After holding the Nets to 31.8 percent shooting in the third quarter to take a 77-68 lead into the fourth, Chicago's defense yielded a mere 12 points in the final period to send Brooklyn to a third straight lopsided defeat.
The Nets, who lost by 23 to the Hawks and 22 to the Cavs, in front of Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton no less, were a dreadful 4-of-20 from the field in the fourth quarter versus Chicago.
Deron Williams paced the Nets, who shot just 33 percent overall, with 17 points.
The Nets were without Brook Lopez (back), guard Joe Johnson (illness) and forward Mirza Teletovic (hip).
"They turned up their defense and they put on a block party," said Nets head coach Lionel Hollins. "We couldn't finish around the basket. I'm proud of our guys and how we played -- we competed and we fought and we were short-handed. Everybody played as well as they could do."
Johnson said he will play Friday, but Lopez and Kevin Garnett (foot), didn't participate in Thursday's practice.
The Sixers have alternated wins and losses over their last four, which is something they couldn't say all season. They are 1-1 on this current road trip, which ends Friday before a three-game homestand starts on Saturday.
Philly ran into the scorching-hot Atlanta Hawks Wednesday and left Georgia with a 95-79 loss. It was the Sixers' lowest point total since 75 against the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 17.
Luc Mbah a Moute paced the Sixers with 12 points, while Michael Carter- Williams filled the stat sheet with eight points, nine assists and 10 rebounds, but committed a team-high nine turnovers.
"I was late on a lot of stuff tonight," said Carter-Williams. "I was taking one too many dribbles, letting their defense rotate for steals. I should have given the ball up a little earlier."
Philly's leading scorer, Tony Wroten, practiced on Thursday, but his status is unknown for Friday. He has missed the last six games with a knee sprain.
The Nets have won three in a row and five of their last six versus the 76ers. Philadelphia hasn't won in four trips to Brooklyn since the team moved there prior to the 2012-13 season.
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