February 15, 2025
3 observations after Sixers’ skid reached 5 games with a loss to Pacers

3 observations after Sixers’ skid reached 5 games with a loss to Pacers

3 observations after Sixers’ skid reached 5 games with loss to Pacers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers lost their fifth straight game and fell to 10 games under .500 Saturday night at Indiana.

With a 115-102 loss to the Pacers, the Sixers are now 15-25. They will reach the halfway point of the season on Sunday when they visit the Bucks.

Pascal Siakam had 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the 24-19 Pacers. Myles Turner had 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Tyrese Maxey was the Sixers’ top scorer with 28 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Ricky Council IV added 18 each.

The Sixers’ injury list remained long and included Guerschon Yabusele, who missed his first game of the season because of swelling in his right knee. In addition to Yabusele, the following Sixers missed Saturday’s game:

  • Joel Embiid (managing a left knee injury)

  • Paul George (tension in the left groin)

  • Kyle Lowry (right hip sprain)

  • Caleb Martin (right hip sprain)

  • KJ Martin (stress reaction in left foot)

  • Jared McCain (left lateral meniscus surgery)

Here are observations about the Sixers’ loss to Indiana:

Drummond back in use

Andre Drummond returned after six games with a left toe injury. He started with Maxey, Eric Gordon, Oubre and Council.

For the first time in a long time, the Sixers’ strong start caused the opponent to call an early timeout. The Pacers made a few sloppy turnovers, Oubre and Gordon knocked down jumpers and the Sixers took an 8-1 lead.

The Sixers’ zone defense was initially effective; Indiana started 0 for 6 from three-point range. The decision to use large amounts of zone was a sensible one, in part because it allowed Drummond to spend a little more time in the paint in his first game since Jan. 4.

The 31-year-old big man finished the night with eight points and three boards in 27 minutes. He looked rusty, missed several rebounds he usually grabbed, and was whistled for two illegal screens in the first half.

Going forward, the Sixers hope Drummond stays healthy and provides a level of consistency and reliability at center. Counting the Indiana game, Embiid and Drummond combined for five appearances in January.

The best we’ve seen from Bona

Drummond shared the floor with fellow center Adem Bona for a few minutes in the second quarter.

Bona had his best half in the NBA to date. While he may not be known for his scoring prowess, the rookie clearly has the power, bounce and competitive fire to do damage inside – on pick-and-rolls, on putbacks, in the open floor. He scored 11 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the first half and threw down three big dunks.

Bona still doesn’t seem as comfortable in less basic offensive situations, but that’s okay as long as he understands his game and avoids unnecessary risks. There is no need to attempt tight short roll passes down the field or try anything tricky as a ball handler. He recorded no turnovers against Indiana and one assist and delivered a backdoor layup to Maxey in the third quarter.

“Playing in the dunker (spot) helps us gain a lot of distance, so I tried to do that and get the other big one out of the paint,” Bona said on Jan. 9. “I think the biggest thing I learned is that having more space on the field helps the team when I’m on the field.”

The Sixers’ only two other players to come off the bench in the first half on Saturday were Justin Edwards and Jeff Dowtin Jr. Indiana’s second unit put up 30 points before halftime, but the Sixers finished the second quarter well and continued to roll around to open the game third. After a Council three and a Drummond dunk, they had a 66-61 lead.

Not enough long-term success

Indiana soon found its footing and pushed its way back to the lead.

In many of the Sixers’ severely shorthanded games this season, they have had to field a lot of open jumpers to make up for the lack of healthy players. That didn’t happen against the Pacers.

The Sixers went 10 for 34 (29.4 percent) from three-point range. Maxey was productive from inside the arc, but shot 2-for-7 on his long-range attempts. He’s at 25.5 percent in his last five games.

The Pacers appeared to be on the verge of winning the game at the start of the fourth quarter. Edwards was fouled and the Sixers’ deficit grew with Maxey on the bench. Indiana took a 101-85 lead on a Siakam hoop with 8:25 left.

Instead of Drummond or Bona, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse then decided to use Pete Nance at center. Nance hit a three-pointer on his first touch and the Sixers went on an improbable 10-0 run. A council slam cut the Pacers’ lead to 106-100.

Here, too, the Sixers ultimately couldn’t beat the odds. They are just two games away from a play-in tournament spot and are looking for a win.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *