Good afternoon, sports fans.The Philadelphia 76ers were expected to be an NBA title contender this season, but injuries have derailed those lofty expectations. Due to Joel Embiid, Paul George and others missing extended periods, the Sixers aren't even in playoff contention as of today. So it should come as no surprise to hear that hey'll be shorthanded, once again, when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers tonight with Embiid, George, and offseason acquisition Caleb Martin set to miss the game. Still, somebody is going to have to put the ball in the basket for Philadelphia, and that could certainly be star guard Tyrese Maxey. Our Mike Barner notes that Maxey has enjoying a stellar scoring stretch as of late in which he's netted at least 29 points in eight of his last 10 games. On top of Maxey's impressive scoring numbers, the Lakers are allowing their opponents to shoot 47.4% from the field, which is the seventh-worst clip in the NBA. As a result, Maxey should have no problem filling up the stat sheet against the Lakers. Consider this a sneak preview for the type of expert analysis and insight you will receive as a SportsLine subscriber.Eagles and Chiefs reveal uniforms for Super Bowl LIX.Astros having internal discussions about the possibility of bringing back Alex Bregman.Iowa State drops to No. 5 in CBS Sports Top 25 and 1 men's college basketball rankings.All times Eastern | Game odds via SportsLine consensus 👀 Today's top storyASKING PRICE ON JIMMY BUTLER IS REPORTEDLY DROPPINGThe Jimmy Butler saga continues to drag on as the Miami Heat suspended him indefinitely after Butler walked out of Monday's shootaround. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Heat's asking price for Butler has reportedly dropped, and the team is "willing to do more" in order to get a deal done. With the market cooling, more teams are reportedly expressing a desire for Butler's services. Per Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor and Vincent Goodwill, the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers are two teams that could be interested. According to Goodwill, a potential Butler deal could center around Paul George going to Miami, but his max contract could be a hangup. In addition to the Warriors and Sixers, CBS Sports NBA writer Sam Quinn forecasts a few other teams that could be interested in acquiring Butler if his price continues to drop.Quinn:"In the past, teams like the Bucks and Grizzlies have reportedly considered runs at Butler, but have not gotten far in those pursuits. Would Phoenix falling out of the running open the door back up for them? Potentially, especially if Butler is available at a discount. Milwaukee has only one tradable first-round pick left, its 2031 selection. The Grizzlies control all of their own draft capital, but draft so well that paying a premium in terms of picks hurts them more than it hurts most teams. For now, both teams look more like fringe contenders than real threats for the championship. Getting Butler at the right price could change that." 🔥 The Hot TicketLakers at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. | TV: TNTThe Pick: Tyrese Maxey Over 28.5 Points (-122)Key trend: Maxey has scored at least 29 points in eight of his last 10 games.SportsLine expert Mike Barner is 58-37 in his last 95 NBA prop picks.Barner:"Joel Embiid, Paul George and Caleb Martin have all been ruled out for this game. That should leave plenty of shot attempts for Tyrese Maxey, who has already been on a scoring surge lately. Over his last 10 games, he has scored at least 29 points on eight different occasions. On the two instances in which he didn't get past that number, he just missed with 28 points in each of those two contests. The Lakers will be playing the second game of a road back-to-back, so they could have tired legs. Los Angeles also has the ninth-worst defensive rating in the league, so Maxey should shine in the scoring department."👀 Here's what else SportsLine is saying about the game: The Projection Model has a "B" pick on the total, while having "C" picks on the spread and moneyline. Get one week of picks from SportsLine completely free with the promo code NEWSLETTER*. Sign up here to get started! 💰 Also on tonight ...UCF at Kansas, 8 p.m. | TV: ESPN+The Projection: Under 152.5 (-110) | Grade: B -- ModerateSportsLine's Projection Model has a "B" grade on the total with "C" grades for the spread and moneyline for the contest. The under is 5-2 in Kansas' last seven games, so we'll back that trend in continue with a fairly large total number.🔒 SportsLine expert picks: Our staff has combed through tonight's CBB slate and is offering thebest plays as the season continues. Get one week of picks from SportsLine completely free with the promo code NEWSLETTER*. 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