The Philadelphia 76ers (8-5) are starting their six-game road trip against the Indiana Pacers (5-8) Saturday night in Indiana.
After losing the past three games at home, the Sixers are looking to bounce back and get a crucial road win under their belt.
Injury Report
Joel Embiid: Out (Health and Safety Protocols)
Matisse Thybulle: Out (Health and Safety Protocols)
Isaiah Joe: Out (Health and Safety Protocols)
Ben Simmons: Out (Personal Reasons)
Grant Riller: Out (Meniscus)
With the Sixers suffering major losses these past couple of weeks due to COVID-19, there was a bright side in Thursday’s matchup; Tobias Harris’ return. Doc Rivers stated before the game that Harris felt good and cleared protocols and would be playing restricted minutes in the matchup against the Raptors.
Harris actually ended the night playing a normal 37 minutes and had a solid stat line of 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Harris stepping up against the Pacers would be major, as the team is in dire need of his scoring abilities moving forward down without some of their major players.
Matisse Thybulle is nearing 10 days after entering health and safety protocols and should hopefully join the team on their road stretch.
Joel Embiid, according to Doc Rivers, has been struggling with the virus and still remains on health and safety protocols into next week.
The Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers currently sit at 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 5-8. Despite an under .500 record, the Pacers should not be overlooked by the shorthanded Sixers. With an offensive weapon in Malcolm Brogdon (currently averaging 23.6 PPG) and a strong defensive player in Myles Turner (currently averaging 8.5 RPG and 3.2 BPG), the Sixers will have their work cut out for them Saturday night without their two best defensive players.
The Pacers are coming off an extremely physical game Thursday night against the Utah Jazz that had four players ejected. After a major scuffle between Rudy Gobert and Myles Turner, both Gobert and Turner and Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles were shown to the locker room after exhibiting some aggressive behavior. Sixers should also expect a chippy game as energies are still running high out in Indiana.
Sixers fans have one thing to count their blessings on, and that is that T.J Warren will be sitting on the sidelines Saturday night with a foot injury. Warren has been known to be incredibly explosive against the Sixers. It was against the Sixers back in 2020 in the bubble that Warren earned his 53 career-high in points.
Tyrese Maxey
To say Tyrese Maxey has been pivotal for the Sixers this season would be an understatement. The 6’2 guard has been absolutely phenomenal in his sophomore year and has really stepped up in the point guard position when the Sixers needed him most.
Maxey is averaging 17.1 PPG and has scored over 30 points in his last two games. Maxey has proven himself an immovable piece, with the Sixers still eyeing potential suitors to trade Ben Simmons with.
The Sixers take on the Indiana Pacers Saturday night at 7:00 PM in Indianapolis.
