Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Preview
The Indiana Pacers, currently ranked 15th in the Eastern Conference with a dismal record of 15 wins and 43 losses, will host the Philadelphia 76ers, who sit 6th with 31 wins and 26 losses, in Indianapolis this Tuesday at 7 p.m. EST. This matchup comes at a crucial time as the Pacers try to snap a three-game losing streak.
Team Performance
When it comes to facing Eastern Conference teams, the Pacers have struggled significantly with an 11-28 record overall. Furthermore, their performance has notably dipped in tightly contested matches, with a record of 6-5 in games that were decided by a single possession. In comparison, the 76ers have balanced their conference matchups, standing at 19-19, while they have faced challenges in close games, holding a 6-8 record in contests decided by three points or fewer.
Offensive Comparison
Offensively, the Pacers have been shooting at a rate of 45% from the field, which is 2.1 percentage points shy of the 47.1% that the 76ers allow to their opponents. On the perimeter, Philadelphia excels with an average of 12.8 three-pointers made per game, surpassing the 11.4 they allow the Pacers from the arc each game.
Recent Encounters
In their last encounter on January 20, the 76ers emerged victorious with a score of 113-104, bolstered by Joel Embiid’s impressive 30 points, while Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard led his team with 25 points.
Key Players
Key players for tonight’s game include:
- Pascal Siakam (Indiana): Averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists
- Jarace Walker (Indiana): Averaging 14.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over his last ten games
- VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia): Averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, four assists, and 1.5 steals per game
- Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia): Stands out with 27.2 points and 3.5 rebounds over his last ten games at a shooting percentage of 44.1%
Recent Form and Injuries
Examining the recent form of both teams, the Pacers have found themselves at 3-7 over their last ten games, averaging 117.3 points while yielding 122.1 to their opponents, shooting at a clip of 48.6%. Meanwhile, the 76ers have been slightly better at 5-5, scoring 114.9 points per game, with 116.7 given up on defense.
In terms of injuries, the Pacers will be without several key players including:
- Aaron Nesmith (ankle)
- Obi Toppin (foot)
- Johnny Furphy (season-ending knee injury)
- Ivica Zubac (ankle)
- Tyrese Haliburton (season-ending Achilles injury)
- T.J. McConnell (hamstring)
The 76ers also face challenges, as they will not have Johni Broome (knee) or Joel Embiid (knee) available for tonight’s contest.
Conclusion
As these two teams clash again, the 76ers will look to assert their dominance, while the Pacers hope to find a spark to turn their fortune around.
