The Pacers (6-4) and 76ers (8-1) are set to clash in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, marking their second encounter in three days.
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The Pacers (6-4) and 76ers (8-1) are set to clash in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, marking their second encounter in three days. However, an intriguing scheduling twist adds even more significance to this Tuesday’s matchup compared to their previous meeting.
That’s because Tuesday’s game holds a special status as a group play matchup in the NBA’s innovative In-Season Tournament (IST). Presently, Indiana and Philadelphia lead East Group A, each securing a victory in their initial group game. The victor of Tuesday’s showdown will gain a significant advantage in the race to claim the top spot in the group, earning a coveted spot in the IST quarterfinals scheduled for December.
The Pacers will be seeking redemption on Tuesday, fueled by the memory of their 137-126 loss to the Sixers on Sunday. To flip the script this time around, the Blue & Gold squad will be laser-focused on putting the brakes on the dynamic duo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Embiid, the current MVP, has been a perennial thorn in the Pacers’ side, and he continued his dominance on Sunday with an impressive performance, tallying 37 points and snagging 13 rebounds. However, Maxey outshone even the reigning MVP, delivering a career-high 50 points in a standout performance.
The Pacers find themselves in the unfortunate position of conceding 50 or more points to a single player in back-to-back games. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge with an astounding 54 points in Indiana’s 126-124 triumph over Milwaukee on Thursday. Before this recent stretch, the Pacers had only witnessed 13 instances of a player scoring 50 points or more in over 47 seasons of NBA basketball.
Despite grappling with defensive challenges, the Pacers maintain their offensive prowess as a force to be reckoned with. Currently topping the NBA charts, Indiana leads in both offensive rating (122 points per 100 possessions) and assists (30.7 per game). Additionally, they secured the second spot in 3-pointers per game (15.8) and boasted an impressive 3-point percentage of .389.
Elevating his performance to new heights, All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton has notched double-doubles in eight of the initial nine games this season. Notably, in Sunday’s defeat, he showcased his prowess with a remarkable 25-point, 17-assist display. Haliburton currently holds the 19th spot in the league’s scoring charts, averaging an impressive 23.8 points per game. Moreover, his league-leading 12.2 assists per contest surpasses second-place Trae Young by a notable two assists.
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