Game Preview: Sixers vs Pacers
The Sixers take the floor tonight after a big win on Monday over the New Orleans Pelicans, 120-111. With the victory, they’ve improved to 22-14 on the campaign and remain the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference standings. Trailing them by two games is their opponent tonight. The 21-17 Indiana Pacers.
This evening marks the second matchup of the season between the Pacers and the 76ers. On October 24th, Philadelphia collected a 14-point victory, 120-106, over Indiana for the first win of the year. James Harden led the Sixers with 29 points, going 10 for 18 from the floor and five for 10 from the three-point line. Harden also added nine rebounds and 11 assists, committing just one turnover in 35 minutes of play. Joel Embiid tallied 26, 5 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, and three blocked shots. 18 points and eight rebounds for Tobias Harris. Third-year guard Tyrese Haliburton dropped 16 to go with six rebounds and six assists. As a team, Philadelphia did a great job by protecting the basketball only turning the ball over 7 times.
The Pacers are the 9th youngest team in the NBA with an average age of 25 years old across their 17-man roster.
Key Matchups
- Pacers center Myles Turner vs Embiid
- Turner’s athleticism will be one to watch against Embiid’s overall offensive repertoire. The Sixers All-Star has a knack of getting the opposing big in foul trouble… really interrupting the defensive game plan going in. But Turner has been a Defensive Player of the Year candidate multiple times and may be able to hold his own. Maybe not on the physical side, but by simply playing smart and keeping himself on the floor by not being baited into personal fouls. A good one to watch.
- Pacers point guard Halliburton versus De’Anthony Melton / Matisse Thybulle
- Haliburton has really elevated his game in year three and is having an All-Star-type campaign. I would be surprised if he wasn’t a part of the mid-season classic. Melton will get the first shot at trying to slow down the head of Indiana’s offense who averages a double-double of 20.7 points and a league-leading 10 assists per game. One would also assume Thybulle will also have the chance to guard him.
- Pacers rookie Benedict Mathurin vs Thybulle
- This one is pretty simple. Two skilled players at what they do best, matching their athleticism while both coming off of the bench. This should also be a really fun match-up.
