The Sixers couldn’t get the offense going tonight as they failed to secure the top seed in the East after falling to the Indiana Pacers.
It was an incredibly frustrating game. The Sixers were shorthanded, as were the Pacers, and despite their first-half success, the Sixers collapsed in the second half leading to a final score of 103-94.
Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris carried the scoring load, each scoring over 20 points, but the rest of the team struggled to find the bottom of the bucket. The Sixers’ other three starters combined for a grand total of 19 points which was clearly not enough.
Can’t Buy A Bucket
The presence of Joel Embiid was missed sorely, and it was evident not only by the team’s lack of scoring but also their horrendous three-point percentage (30.6%).
In games where Embiid plays, the Sixers shoot 38.4% from three, which would be good enough to tie for the sixth-best percentage in the league. When Embiid is out, the team shoots a mediocre 34.1% which would rank 27th in the NBA.
It’s a staggering difference, one that shows once again just how important Joel Embiid is to this offense. The MVP hopeful will make his return to the team and hopefully will enjoy health during the playoffs. The team, though, is frankly tough to watch without him most games. Hopefully, Embiid remains healthy for the entirety of the playoffs.
Sixers’ Journey Isn’t Over
It’s disappointing that Philly couldn’t claim the top seed tonight, but that time will likely come soon, so it’s far too early to hit the panic button. For now, the Sixers’ magic number remains at one but considering they close the season out with back-to-back home games against the Orlando Magic; it’s tough to see the team falling below the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
