Game Preview- Sixers vs the Pacers

After an emotional comeback win in Milwaukee on Saturday night, the 76ers will try to keep the momentum going. Tonight's game at the Pacers is game 4 of their 5-game road trip.

The Sixers are back to 19 games over .500 at 41-22 on the season after a come-from-behind 133-130 win over the Eastern Conference-leading Bucks. Philadelphia trailed by as much as 18 in the third quarter before erupting for 48 points in the final frame, completing the furious comeback. The Sixers are 17-12 on the road after the win over the weekend. The 76ers snapped Milwaukee’s 16-game winning streak. The Pacers host the 76ers after a 125-122 victory that saw All-Star Tyrese Haliburton hit the game-winning three-pointer with 2.7 seconds remaining on the game clock. Indiana is now 29-36 on the campaign and post a winning record at home of 18-15. 

Tonight marks the third game of the four-game series between the Sixers and Pacers with Philadelphia winning the first two matchups at home. The fourth and final game will be played on Saturday, March 18th in Indianapolis.  

The Pacers will be playing the second night of a back-to-back after Sunday’s win over the Bulls. Haliburton paced six players in double-figures as he led Indiana with 29 points and a game-best 11 assists. Rookie Benedict Mathurin scored 17 off the bench, big man Myles Turner added 16, Chris Duarte chipped in 15 in a reserve role, while Jordan Nwora and Oshae Brissett each added 10. 

Philadelphia will look to slow down the talented Haliburton while making sure the shooters don’t get into a good rhythm from behind the three-point line after making 16 in the win on Sunday. The Sixers must get a body on their assignment so they won’t have many second-chance opportunities from offensive rebounds. Limit the turnovers, run the offense with pace, and collect another win during this roadie. Don’t let your guard down versus an inferior opponent. 

Starting forward Tobias Harris (calf) and PJ Tucker (back spasms) both left Saturday’s game due to injuries. Both players were listed as questionable during the last injury report this afternoon. Haliburton (calf) and starting forward Aaron Nesmith (hip) were also marked as questionable. Nesmith missed Sunday’s game.  

PHI: Joel Embiid, PJ Tucker, Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey and James Harden 

IND: Turner, Nwora, Buddy Hield, Andrew Nembhard and Haliburton 

We are a little under a week from the start of the World Baseball Classic. Most of the best players from around the world will take the baseball field for their home country. Festivities kick off on Tuesday, March 7th, and will wrap up on Tuesday March 21st. This of course means any player participating will miss two weeks of Spring Training.

It will feature 20 teams, split up into 4 different groups. The United States are the defending Champions from 2017 and will be in Group C. Joining them are Mexico, Great Britian, Columbia, and Canada. Group A features Cuba, Italy, Netherlands, Chinese Tapei, and Panama. In Group B two time champions Japan, along with Korea, China, Chezch Republic, and Australia. And in Group D will be the 2013 Champions Dominican Republic, along with Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and Isreal.

It is the 5th edition of the World Baseball Classic. These games were supposed to take place in 2021. But the World Pandemic pushed the qualifying games and the actual World Baseball Classic back to 2023.

Games will take place across 4 different fields. Two in the United States, 1 in Japan, and 1 in Taiwan. Arizona's Chase Field and Miami's Loan Depot Park are the two American Fields hosting games. The Tokyo Dome, obviously from Tokyo, will host the games in Japan. And the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium will host the games played in Taiwan. The United States will play its group-stage games in Arizona. The top 2 teams from each group advance to the tournament. The Quarterfinals games take place in Tokyo or Miami. And then the Semi-Final games and the Finals all take place in Miami.

8 Phillies, and several former Phillies, are competing in the World Baseball Classic. Who are they, and what teams are they playing for? Here are all the Phillies' connections in the World Baseball Classic.

[Source: Wikapedia.com]

Eight  Current Phillies are playing, but there are also 7 former Phillies players taking part in the games.

Other than Neris and Segura, not exactly a group of names the Phillies are looking forward to seeing again. It's either guys who barely played here or in Pivetta's case, flamed out here.