76ers Look to Bounce Back Against Pacers in Key Eastern Conference Clash.
The Philadelphia 76ers will seek to snap their early-season losing streak when they take on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday. After suffering defeats in their opening two games, the 76ers are desperate for a win to ignite their campaign.
Meanwhile, the Pacers are looking to capitalize on their strong home record, having won 11 of their last 13 games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They aim to bounce back from a disappointing road defeat to the New York Knicks and establish a winning rhythm early in the season.
The Philadelphia 76ers endured their second consecutive defeat to start the regular season. They fell 115-107 to the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night. This loss followed a disappointing 124-109 defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks. In that game, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo combined for 55 points.
Despite a slow start, the 76ers are determined to improve upon last season’s playoff run. This included a narrow 105-104 victory over the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. However, they fell 4-2 to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference first round. Their hopes are hampered by injuries to key players, notably offseason acquisition Paul George. He has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Joel Embiid’s absence remains a significant concern for the team. The 2023 NBA MVP continues to recover from a knee injury sustained in August.
Tyrese Maxey
Kyle Lowry
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Kenyon Martin Jr.
Andre Drummond
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Bennedict Mathurin has emerged as a reliable offensive threat off the bench for the Indiana Pacers, scoring 19 and 20 points in his first two games. The Canadian guard aims to continue his scoring momentum in Monday’s matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Tyrese Haliburton will be eager to bounce back after a dismal performance against the Knicks, where he failed to score in 26 minutes of action. After averaging 20.1 points per game last season, Haliburton is determined to shake off Saturday’s shooting struggles and contribute significantly against the 76ers.
On the injury front, the Pacers will be without center James Wiseman. The former number two pick is expected to miss an extended period after undergoing surgery for an Achilles injury.
Tyrese Haliburton
Andrew Nembhard
Aaron Nesmith
Pascal Siakam
Myles Turner