Over the last few weeks, the Philadelphia 76ers have gotten two things they desperately needed: wins and rest.
The improving Sixers hope to continue their strong performance on Friday when they host the struggling Indiana Pacers.
This season, all three Philadelphia stars—Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey—have missed significant time due to injuries. As a result, the Sixers struggled to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference, losing 14 of their first 17 games. However, they have rebounded to win four of their last five contests as the team’s health has improved.
Most recently, Philadelphia secured a 108-100 road win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. Embiid recorded 31 points and 12 rebounds, George added 12 points and seven boards, and Maxey achieved a triple-double with 25 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds.
Perhaps even more important than their recent on-court efforts is the fact that the Sixers have had five days of rest. This break is beneficial for Embiid—who returned from a seven-game absence on Sunday—and George as they recover from knee issues, as well as Maxey, who continues to work his way back from a hamstring injury.
The Pacers have also faced a tough season, partly due to injuries, and have welcomed the multiple-day layoff to get healthier and more cohesive on the court.
Indiana has not played since Sunday, when they fell 113-109 to the visiting Charlotte Hornets. The break has been helpful for the team to get back to basics.
T.J. McConnell scored a career-high 30 points for Indiana, which has lost five of its last six games. The Pacers were hindered by turnovers (17), rebounding (45-29), and defense, as Charlotte shot 51.3 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from 3-point range.
Among the Pacers who had quiet games on Sunday were Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Pascal Siakam. The trio combined to shoot 11 of 29 from the field, including 1 of 13 from 3-point range, and scored 29 points. In fact, none of the Indiana starters finished with more than 11 points.
