Another team that needs to get their first win. Pacers better start hitting some threes.
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Game Preview
The 1-1 Indiana Pacers return to Indianapolis on Sunday to take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the season’s home opener. After a loss in New York to the Knicks on Friday, the Blue and Gold look to build momentum against a shorthanded 76ers team.
At full strength, Philadelphia boasts a daunting trio of stars in Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid. With George and Embiid sidelined due to knee injuries, Maxey shoulders the offensive load.
Maxey, the 21st overall pick in 2020’s draft, is averaging 24.5 points through the Sixers’ first two games of the season, but is just 16-for-54 from the field through those two matchups. Philadelphia is 0-2 in those contests.
"You know they're coming in desperate on Sunday," coach Rick Carlisle said of the winless 76ers. "And we're going to have to be desperate, too. We've got to fight and claw for everything at this point in the season."
As Indiana's starting unit struggles to find an offensive rhythm, Bennedict Mathurin remains solid off the bench. Mathurin averages 19.5 points on 62 percent shooting through the Pacers' first two games, proving himself a reliable offensive option as Tyrese Haliburton's shooting endeavors remain fruitless in that same timeframe.
Haliburton didn't score in Friday's matchup with the Knicks, and is just 1-for-16 from 3-point range through his first 61 minutes of play on the season. Only two starters -- Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam -- reached double figure scoring totals on Friday. Indiana's bench outscored the Knicks' bench 67-21, following the same pattern as the season opener in Detroit when the Pacers' bench outscored the Pistons' 46-24.
"Out of the 20-some threes we shot today, I felt like majority of them were good looks," Haliburton said following the game in New York. "...We're missing shots. We'll be alright."
With an opportunity to bounce back against a floundering 76ers team, the Pacers look ahead to Sunday's home opener. Eric Gordon of the 76ers looks ahead to a return home.
Gordon, an Indiana native, played his high school basketball for the North Central Panthers before he joined the Indiana Hoosiers in 2007. After one year wearing cream and crimson, Gordon declared for the 2008 NBA Draft and was selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Philadelphia seeks their first victory of the season and Indiana looks for momentum as the two prepare to meet in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday. Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
76ers: G - Tyrese Maxey, G - Kyle Lowry, F - Kelly Oubre Jr., F - Caleb Martin, C - Andre Drummond Injury Report
Pacers: James Wiseman - out (left Achilles tendon tear)
76ers: Joel Embiid - out (left knee injury management), Paul George - out (left knee bone bruise) Last Meeting
Jan. 25, 2024: The Pacers defeated the 76ers in a 134-122 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse behind a triple-double from Pascal Siakam. Siakam’s 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists marked his first triple-double in over a year, and helped Indiana to end a Philadelphia winning streak at six.
Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 31 points and seven rebounds in the loss. Tyrese Maxey added 22 of his own points, but shot just 7-for-17 from the field.
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined due to a hamstring strain, Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner stepped up to support Siakam’s offensive outburst. Turner finished with 20 points and nine rebounds while Nembhard tacked on 19 points and eight assists.
The Pacers led wire to wire in Siakam’s first win following the trade with the Toronto Raptors, and Indiana snapped a three-game skid. Noteworthy
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
FanDuel Sports Network - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
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Game Preview
The 1-1 Indiana Pacers return to Indianapolis on Sunday to take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the season’s home opener. After a loss in New York to the Knicks on Friday, the Blue and Gold look to build momentum against a shorthanded 76ers team.
At full strength, Philadelphia boasts a daunting trio of stars in Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid. With George and Embiid sidelined due to knee injuries, Maxey shoulders the offensive load.
Maxey, the 21st overall pick in 2020’s draft, is averaging 24.5 points through the Sixers’ first two games of the season, but is just 16-for-54 from the field through those two matchups. Philadelphia is 0-2 in those contests.
"You know they're coming in desperate on Sunday," coach Rick Carlisle said of the winless 76ers. "And we're going to have to be desperate, too. We've got to fight and claw for everything at this point in the season."
As Indiana's starting unit struggles to find an offensive rhythm, Bennedict Mathurin remains solid off the bench. Mathurin averages 19.5 points on 62 percent shooting through the Pacers' first two games, proving himself a reliable offensive option as Tyrese Haliburton's shooting endeavors remain fruitless in that same timeframe.
Haliburton didn't score in Friday's matchup with the Knicks, and is just 1-for-16 from 3-point range through his first 61 minutes of play on the season. Only two starters -- Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam -- reached double figure scoring totals on Friday. Indiana's bench outscored the Knicks' bench 67-21, following the same pattern as the season opener in Detroit when the Pacers' bench outscored the Pistons' 46-24.
"Out of the 20-some threes we shot today, I felt like majority of them were good looks," Haliburton said following the game in New York. "...We're missing shots. We'll be alright."
With an opportunity to bounce back against a floundering 76ers team, the Pacers look ahead to Sunday's home opener. Eric Gordon of the 76ers looks ahead to a return home.
Gordon, an Indiana native, played his high school basketball for the North Central Panthers before he joined the Indiana Hoosiers in 2007. After one year wearing cream and crimson, Gordon declared for the 2008 NBA Draft and was selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Philadelphia seeks their first victory of the season and Indiana looks for momentum as the two prepare to meet in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday. Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Pascal Siakam, C - Myles Turner
76ers: G - Tyrese Maxey, G - Kyle Lowry, F - Kelly Oubre Jr., F - Caleb Martin, C - Andre Drummond Injury Report
Pacers: James Wiseman - out (left Achilles tendon tear)
76ers: Joel Embiid - out (left knee injury management), Paul George - out (left knee bone bruise) Last Meeting
Jan. 25, 2024: The Pacers defeated the 76ers in a 134-122 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse behind a triple-double from Pascal Siakam. Siakam’s 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists marked his first triple-double in over a year, and helped Indiana to end a Philadelphia winning streak at six.
Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 31 points and seven rebounds in the loss. Tyrese Maxey added 22 of his own points, but shot just 7-for-17 from the field.
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined due to a hamstring strain, Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner stepped up to support Siakam’s offensive outburst. Turner finished with 20 points and nine rebounds while Nembhard tacked on 19 points and eight assists.
The Pacers led wire to wire in Siakam’s first win following the trade with the Toronto Raptors, and Indiana snapped a three-game skid. Noteworthy
- James Wiseman is sidelined for the foreseeable future after rupturing his Achilles tendon against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. He underwent successful surgery to repair the ligament on Thursday.
- Sixers guard Eric Gordon is an Indiana native. He played his high school basketball at North Central High School and went on to play one year with the Indiana Hoosiers before being drafted seventh overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008.
- Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle is tied with Bill Fitch for 11th all-time in NBA coaching wins. A win against the 76ers would be the 945th for Carlisle as a head coach.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
FanDuel Sports Network - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
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