Game preview: Pacers to 76ers

Match

The Pacers (15-17) continue a four-game road trip Monday night in Philadelphia against Joel Embiid and the 76ers (22-12).

Indiana has given up three straight contests by narrow margins. The Blue & Gold were one possession in the last minute against each of Golden State, Boston and New York, but in every game they failed to make a key game or two that could have changed the outcome.

Unfortunately for the Pacers, injuries are starting to pile up in the backcourt. Starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon missed Saturday’s 110-107 loss to the Knicks with a pain in his right knee and sixth man Jeremy Lamb was out in the fourth quarter after injuring his left knee. Their absence meant a heavier workload for TJ McConnell, who played a career-high 46 minutes.

The 76ers have been in first place in the East for most of the season, although they’ve struggled a bit lately, going 6-6 in their last 12 games. Philadelphia is only half a game ahead of Brooklyn.

Philadelphia is led by All-NBA center Joel Embiid, who is one of the early pioneers of MVP racing. The 7-footer is second in the NBA scoring at 30 points per game and 10th in rebound (11.3 per game). He’s been on a tear lately, scoring a career-high 50 points on Feb.19 against Chicago and losing 42 on Saturday night to Cleveland.

While the Sixers pose a formidable challenge against an Indiana team that struggled to make their way through the win column, the Pacers are keeping their heads held high.

We have a positive group, ”McConnell said after Saturday’s loss. We have a positive coach and a good coach. We are not overreacting. It’s like that. We’ve lost that many, but we’re not going to let it pile up. We’re going to move on and get one in Philadelphia. “

Projected starters

TJ McConnell

Justin vacation

Doug mcdermott

Domantas sabonis

Myles Turner

Ben simmons

Seth Curry

Danny green

Furkan korkmaz

Joel Embiid

Injury report

Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon – questionable (right knee pain), Jeremy Lamb – questionable (left knee pain), Brian Bowen II – absent (G League bidirectional contract), Jalen Lecque – absent (G League assignment), Caris LeVert – absent (medical condition), Cassius Stanley – absent (bidirectional contract of League G), TJ Warren – absent (stress fracture of the left foot)

76ers: Tobias Harris – questionable (right knee contusion), Paul Reed – absent (G League bidirectional contract), Rayjon Tucker – absent (G League bidirectional contract)

Last meeting

January 31, 2021: The Pacers led by no less than 20 points and led 104-88 with eight minutes remaining. But Philadelphia moved on to a 2-3 zone which smothered Indiana’s attack, allowing the 76ers to unwind a 21-2 run to take the lead and knock out the Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 119- 110.

“It was disruptive,” Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren said of the zone. “We didn’t manage to shoot. I don’t think we attacked him very well either. They changed the game with it.”

Malcolm Brogdon scored 25 points for Indiana in the loss. Domantas Sabonis added 21 points and eight rebounds, while Aaron Holiday had 17 points off the bench on 7 of 11 shots.

Tobias Harris had 27 points and eight rebounds for the 76ers, who lacked star center Joel Embiid due to back strain. Ben Simmons added 21 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Remarkable

• The Pacers have lost their last two games in Philadelphia.
• The Pacers and 76ers will conclude their season at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 11.
• Indiana’s roster includes three former Sixers: Justin Holiday (2013), TJ McConnell (2015-19) and JaKarr Sampson (2014-16).

Tickets

A limited number of tickets for all of the Pacers’ upcoming home games from Jan. 24 to March 4 are now on sale. Tickets for a game “Health and safety instructions”

Broadcast information List of television and radio programs »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (studio host)
Radio: 93.5 / 107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)