The Indiana Pacers walk into tonight’s ESPN matchup carrying a long injury list and a short margin for error.
Eight players are on the injury report, and Indiana has already ruled out center Ivica Zubac (ankle). Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) and Andrew Nembhard (back/neck) are both listed as questionable, which means the Pacers could be dealing with a gutted starting backcourt against a Philadelphia team that has been rolling early.
The 76ers are 3-1 and unbeaten when Joel Embiid plays, and they’ve already built a balanced scoring attack. Tyrese Maxey is pacing them at 28.8 points per game, Embiid is right behind at 21.7, and newcomer Jaylen Brown is adding 20.8. Embiid is also giving them 9.7 rebounds a night and shares the team lead in assists at 5.7 with LeBron James.
James, now 41, is logging 33.3 minutes per game and putting up 16.3 points while ranking third on the team with 7.0 rebounds per game. Philadelphia’s second-year guard VJ Edgecombe is doing his part in a reduced role too, averaging 12.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in 32.7 minutes.
Even with the injury concerns, Indiana’s second unit has given the team something to work with. The Pacers are 10th in bench scoring, and Obi Toppin has been the main source off the pine, averaging 15.8 points while shooting 54.5% from the field and 40% from three.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is next at 7.5 bench points per game, though his shooting has been rough at 38.7% overall and 18.8% from deep. Tonight also brings a matchup against his former team.
Philadelphia’s bench hasn’t offered nearly as much. The 76ers are 27th in bench scoring at 32.4 points per game. Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have led that group, combining for 15 points per game across 32.5 and 27.5 minutes respectively, and both have been strong from long range - Wade at 50% and Caldwell-Pope at 47.1%.
Anfernee Simons was supposed to be the headline bench addition for Philadelphia this offseason, but through four games he has only produced 6 points per contest. He’s also carrying a negative assists-to-turnover ratio, 1.3 to 2.0, in 22.8 minutes per game.
If Indiana is going to hang around, Pascal Siakam has to carry the load. He’s scored at least 20 points in all four games this season, and the Pacers will need another big primetime outing from him.
He’s also leading the team in personal fouls drawn, so getting to the line and improving on his 56% free-throw shooting could be a major swing factor. Indiana would gladly take a night where Siakam can also get Philadelphia starters into foul trouble.
So far, he’s done just about everything else at a high level. Siakam is shooting 52.9% from the field and 44.4% from three, and after a season-high 13 rebounds in his last game, Indiana will need him active on the glass too. He’ll also have plenty on his plate defensively, with James, Brown and even Embiid showing up in his path at different points.
The game is set for national television on ESPN. Locally, it can also be heard on 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan, and it’s available on NBA League Pass.
In Other News...
Pacers Suddenly Have A Tyrese Haliburton Problem Before 76ers Game
The Pacers injury report is suddenly carrying more weight than usual ahead of their matchup with the 76ers, and Tyrese Haliburton is right at the center of it. Indiana listed the star guard as questionable with left hamstring tightness, a development that matters even more as the team tries to build momentum after a rough previous season and continues working Haliburton back into form following his torn Achilles.
Indiana is also dealing with several other injury concerns, leaving the rotation a little more unsettled than the matchup on paper might suggest. Philadelphia, by comparison, has a shorter list of absences with four players unavailable, so the Pacers may have to manage both the game plan and the roster picture at once before they even get to tipoff. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburtons Absence Leaves Pacers Facing A Brutal Early Test
Tyrese Haliburtons left hamstring strain has put the Pacers in an early-season bind, and the bigger issue right now is the uncertainty around how long theyll have to navigate without their offensive engine. Haliburton, who signed a five-year extension in 2023, has been driving Indianas attack again this season, averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists while setting the pace for everything the team wants to do.
Indiana is already dealing with another major absence, with center Ivica Zubac sidelined by a left ankle injury, which only raises the degree of difficulty for a group trying to stay afloat while key pieces heal. For the Pacers, the challenge is not just replacing production, but reworking the rhythm of a team built around Haliburtons playmaking while waiting for a clearer picture on his return. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Had Pacers Fans Cracking Up With His Rick Carlisle Tribute
Pascal Siakam gave Pacers fans a quick laugh during a recent press conference by arriving in costume as Rick Carlisle, channeling the coach in a nod to one of Carlisles most memorable media moments from his days with the Mavericks. Siakam even taped his mouth shut to mimic Carlisles famous reaction to questions about officiating after a playoff game, turning a routine interview setting into a bit of basketball theater.
For Indiana, it was the kind of lighthearted scene that can travel fast in a season still finding its footing, with the Pacers sitting at 2-2. It also underscored how quickly Siakam has settled into the teams orbit, comfortable enough to poke fun at his coach while giving the fan base something to enjoy beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]