The Philadelphia 76ers have just seven players who are not on their injury report as they prepare to host the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. Sitting just a half-game behind the Brooklyn Nets for the fifth-worst record in the league, The Sixers have an opportunity to earn a better chance of securing their first-round draft pick this year tonight.
The Pacers, coming off a win over the Bucks on Tuesday night, are just a half-game behind the Bucks for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Sixers game information
Who: Indiana Pacers (36-28) at Philadelphia 76ers (22-43)
When: 7 p.m. EST
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Latest on the Sixers
If the expectations weren’t so high to start the season, and the team was expected to be in the bottom part of the league standings, the Sixers and their young players seeing growth as the season winds down would be a reason for optimism. Yet, despite the injuries and mounting losses, the team has been able to uncover some gems in their lineup that could provide some real assistance for the team over the next few years.
After a trade deadline deal with the Mavericks, Quentin Grimes has established himself in Philly as a young guard that the team could pair with Tyrese Maxey in the seasons to come. With the injuries accumulating for the team, Grimes has shown that he can play and be a valuable piece of the team moving forward. Over his last ten games, Grimes has averaged 21.1 points per game, along with 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists, while he has gotten 1.8 steals. Grimes has been an absolute steal for the Sixers at the deadline and has played himself into a contract for the future.
In addition, players like Adem Bona, Ricky Council IV, Jared Butler, Jeff Dowtin and, despite his recent poor shooting, even Justin Edwards have shown that they can contribute and be counted on as the team moves forward. Edwards has shown that he can be effective on both sides of the ball, along with Bona, who’s provided some athleticism, defense, and scoring in limited minutes. The injuries to Embiid, Maxey, and Paul George have given the Sixers depth players a chance to show what they’re capable of doing and develop a more well-rounded roster as they head into the future.
Latest on the Pacers
Despite going 2-3 over their last five games and 5-5 over their last ten, the Pacers are just a half-game behind the Bucks as they head into Philadelphia. A win tonight would tie them with the Bucks for fourth place in the Eastern Conference as they head into a huge matchup on Saturday in Milwaukee.
The Pacers are coming off a win Tuesday night over the Bucks. Seven players scored in double figures, led by Pascal Siakam, who had 25 points and 12 rebounds. Myles Turner had 13 points and six rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton finished the game with 14 points and 10 assists. The team was able to take down the Bucks despite shooting just 33% on their three-point attempts, largely thanks to their perimeter defense, which caused the Bucks to shoot even worse.
The Pacers need a win against the Sixers to improve their chances of securing fourth place in the conference.
What to watch for tonight
Will the Sixers continue their slide and be able to tie the Nets for the fifth-worst record in the league? That’s the question that has to be on everyone’s mind except for Quentin Grimes, who continues to become more lethal with each passing game. Head coach Nick Nurse would be wise to limit Grimes’s minutes if the Sixers want to keep themselves closer to the bottom and secure their protected first-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Grimes, Justin Edwards, and Andre Drummond are all listed as questionable for tonight’s game, as the team will already be without Embiid, Kyle Lowry, Eric Gordon, Tyrese Maxey, and Jared McCain. The Pacers remain relatively healthy and should have all of their weapons available to them. One thing that the Sixers have learned, especially over the past several games, is that the young guys on the team aren’t quitters. The talent and pride that they’ve displayed while fighting an uphill battle is commendable and should be recognized as a positive move forward.
Seeing what players like Bona, Council IV, Butler, and Dowtin can do as they battle one of the better teams in the conference will be exciting and will help this team in the long run. The game will be a learning tool, and while it may get out of hand, the team can hold their heads up as the season winds to a close.
Prediction
Pacers 117 – Sixers 95
